Question

Land west of the San Andreas fault in southern California is moving at an average velocity of about 6 cm/y northwest relative to land east of the fault. How far in the future will this occur if the displacement to be made is 590 km northwest, assuming the motion remains constant?

a) 98,333 years
b) 108,333 years
c) 98,333 million years
d) 108,333 million years

Answer 1

Calculating the displacement of land west of the San Andreas fault given its velocity, the land will shift 590 km northwest in approximately 9.8 million years.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking about the time it will take for the land west of the San Andreas fault in southern California, moving at 6 cm/year, to displace 590 km northwest.

To calculate this, we use the formula:

Time = Distance / Velocity

First, convert km to cm:

590 km = 590,000 meters

= 59,000,000 cm

Then, divide by the velocity:

Time = 59,000,000 cm / 6 cm/year

= 9,833,333.33 years

So, the displacement will take approximately 9.8 million years if the motion remains constant.