Question

A021) Check the box next to the Yellowstone Hot-Spot Trail folder to view the locations and ages of the main calderas that formed in association with the Yellowstone continental hot spot over the past 16.5 Ma. Note that you can select the folder and use the transparency slider at the bottom of the Places panel to make the items in this folder semi-transparent. Continental Hot Spots - Yellowstone Hot-Spot Trail. Use the Path tab on the Ruler tool to measure the distance between the Problem 21 placemarks (cm) along the hot-spot trail. Calculate the average velocity of the North American Plate in cm per year using 16.5 Ma and 0.63 Ma for the two placemarks.

a. ~1.9 cm per year
b. ~4.2 cm per year
c. ~8.8 cm per year
d. ~15 cm per year

Answer 1

b. 4.2 cm per year.

Step-by-step explanation:

Difference in time period is 16.5 - 0.63 = 15.87 Ma among two placement marks. They both are moving to the west. The distance will increase by 4.2cm per year between the Yellowstone hotspot and continental hotspot.