Question

A typical rate of tectonic plate motion is approximately

1. 5 millimeters per million years
2. 5 centimeters per year
3. 5 meters per year
4. 5 kilometers per year
5. 5 kilometers per hour

Answer 1

Tectonic plates move at an average speed of 4 to 5 centimeters per year, which is equivalent to 4.0 kilometers per million years.

Step-by-step explanation:

Tectonic plates are large segments of the Earth's crust that move slowly. The average speed of tectonic plate motion is about 4 to 5 centimeters per year. In scientific notation, this translates to 4.0 × 10-2 meters per year.

To convert this speed to kilometers per million years, we need to multiply it by 104 (since there are 10,000 years in a million years) and then divide by 1000 to convert meters to kilometers. The speed of tectonic plate motion in kilometers per million years is therefore 4.0 × 10-2 × 104 / 1000 = 4.0 kilometers per million years.