Question

The current theory of the structure of the earth, called plate tectonics, tells us that the continents are in constant motion. assume that the north american continent can be represented by a slab of rock 5150 km on a side and 40 km deep and that the rock has an average mass density of 2740 kg/m³. the continent is moving at the rate of about 4.6 cm/year. what is the mass of the continent?

Answer 1

The mass of the North American continent, represented as a slab of rock with given dimensions and mass density, is approximately 2.965 x 10²² kilograms.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mass of the North American continent, in the context of plate tectonics, can be calculated using the formula for the mass of a rectangular slab, which is mass density (ρ) times volume (V). The volume is the product of the slab's dimensions: length (L), width (W), and depth (D). Given the average mass density of ρ = 2740 kg/m³, and the dimensions L = W = 5150 km (which is 5.15 × 10⁶ m) and D = 40 km (which is 4 × 10⁴ m), the calculation would be:

Mass = ρ × L × W × D

Mass = 2740 kg/m³ × 5.15 × 10⁶ m × 5.15 × 10⁶ m × 4 × 10⁴ m

Mass = 2740 kg/m³ × 1.0822 × 10¹⁸ m³

Mass = 2.965 x 10²² kg

Therefore, the mass of the North American continent is approximately 2.965 x 10²² kilograms.