Final answer:
The volume of water that shifted due to the earthquake is 45,542,400,000 cubic yards, calculated by converting the given dimensions to the same unit (yards) and then multiplying the length, width, and height of the shifted sea floor section.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question pertains to calculating the volume of water that shifted position due to an earthquake affecting a section of the sea floor. To solve this, we need to calculate the volume of the displaced section of the sea floor and assume that the water displaced would be equal to this volume.
The dimensions provided are 210 miles long, 70 miles wide, and the average shift was 1 yard in height. To calculate the volume, all dimensions must be in the same unit. We convert miles to yards (1 mile = 1760 yards), then multiply the length, width, and height. It becomes:
- 210 miles * 1760 yards/mile = 369,600 yards
- 70 miles * 1760 yards/mile = 123,200 yards
- 369,600 yards * 123,200 yards * 1 yard = 45,542,400,000 cubic yards
Therefore, the volume of water that suddenly shifted position is 45,542,400,000 cubic yards.