Final answer:
The age differences among the Hawaiian islands are caused by tectonic plate movement over a stationary hot spot. This creates a chain of islands that vary in age, with newer islands forming near the hot spot and older islands moving northwest and becoming eroded.
Step-by-step explanation:
The age differences among the Hawaiian islands in the volcanic chain are primarily caused by tectonic plate movement. The islands are located on the Pacific Plate, which is slowly moving northwest over a stationary hotspot in Earth's mantle. A hot spot is an area where heat from deep within Earth rises, creating conditions for the formation of volcanoes. The Hawaiian Islands were formed by volcanic eruptions from this hot spot. As the Pacific Plate moves over the hot spot, new islands are formed and older ones move away, becoming dormant and eventually eroding. This movement results in a chain of islands that are different ages, with the youngest being closest to the hotspot and the oldest being the farthest away.
The creation of the Hawaiian island chain is thus a result of the interaction between the stationary hot spot and the moving tectonic plates. The process includes volcanic eruptions that build up the islands over time. These differences in age among the islands affect the physical geography, with the older islands being more eroded while the younger ones may still be volcanically active.