Final answer:
The rotational speed of the Earth's surface at the equator can be estimated by dividing the Earth's equatorial circumference by the period of rotation, yielding approximately 1,670 km/h, which is closest to option c) 1,500 km/h.
Step-by-step explanation:
To estimate the rotational speed of the Earth's surface, we need to consider the Earth's equatorial circumference and its period of rotation. The Earth's equatorial circumference is about 40,075 kilometers. Given that the Earth completes one rotation (360 degrees) in about 24 hours, we can calculate the rotational speed in kilometers per hour (km/h).
The formula to calculate linear velocity (v) at the Earth's surface is:
v = (circumference of Earth) / (period of rotation in hours). Replacing the known values, we have v = (40,075 km) / (24 h) ≈ 1,670 km/h.
This calculation shows that the rotational speed of the Earth's surface at the equator is closest to 1,500 km/h, which corresponds to the provided option (c).