Question

Calculate the average velocity in meters per year (m/y) of a tectonic plate that has traveled 9,000 km to the south in 60 million years.

Options:
A. 0.15 m/y
B. 150 m/y
C. 1,500 m/y
D. 15,000 m/y

Answer 1

The average velocity of the tectonic plate is 0.15 m/y.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks for the average velocity of a tectonic plate that has traveled 9,000 km to the south in 60 million years, in meters per year (m/y). To calculate the average velocity, we divide the distance traveled by the time taken. First, we need to convert the distance traveled from kilometers to meters, which gives us 9,000,000 meters. Then, we divide the distance by the time taken, which is 60,000,000 years. The average velocity can be calculated as:

Average Velocity = Distance / Time = 9,000,000 m / 60,000,000 y

Simplifying the calculation, we get: Average Velocity = 0.15 m/y (Option A).