Question

Observing How Plates Move

How slowly do plates move? Use the Sim to measure how far plates move from each other over time
and use your measurements to calculate the rate of plate motion.
1. Open the Plate Motion Sim.
2.
Go to Region 2 of the Sim.
3.
Add a GPS marker to each plate as close as possible to each other and to the plate boundary.
4. Press SET BOUNDARY and select Divergent as the plate boundary type. Then press RUN.
5. During the run, press Pause approximately every 50 million years. Record the time in the first
column of the table below. Observe the distance between the two pins by pressing on either pin
and reading the distance to the other and then record that number in the Distance column. You
can press the Reset button in the top right corner to replay the Sim.
6. Calculate the rate for each pair of distances and times by dividing the distance by the time.
Record those numbers in the Rate column.
Fill out the data table below. using evidence from the Sim.
Time (millions of years)
Distance (km)
Rate (km per million years)

Answer 1

Without access to the Plate Motion Sim, I cannot provide you with the specific measurements to fill out the data table. However, I can provide guidance on how to complete the task based on the instructions provided.

To measure how far plates move from each other over time, you will need to add a GPS marker to each plate as close as possible to each other and to the plate boundary. Then, you will need to set the boundary to Divergent and run the simulation.

During the simulation, you will need to press Pause approximately every 50 million years and record the time in the first column of the table. Next, observe the distance between the two pins by pressing on either pin and reading the distance to the other. Record that number in the Distance column.

To calculate the rate for each pair of distances and times, you will need to divide the distance by the time. Record those numbers in the Rate column. Finally, you can use the data to analyze the speed at which plates move and draw conclusions about plate tectonics.

Answer 2

Answer: Current plate movement can be tracked directly by means of ground-based or space-based geodetic measurements; geodesy is the science of the size and shape of the Earth. Ground-based measurements are taken with conventional but very precise ground-surveying techniques, using laser-electronic instruments. Sep 15, 2014

Explanation: Earth's land masses move toward and away from each other at an average rate of about 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) a year. That's about the rate that human toenails grow!

Geodesy, the science of measuring the Earth's shape and positions on it, allows the measurement of plate motion directly using GPS, the Global Positioning System. This network of satellites is more stable than the Earth's surface, so when a whole continent moves somewhere at a few centimeters per year, GPS can tell.