Question

The Hawaiian hot spot sits below the Pacific plate. As the plate moves over the hot spot, a chain of volcanoes is formed. The East Molokai Volcano is ~1.76 million years old, and about 178 km away from the current location of the Hawaiian hot spot. Assuming that the hot spot is in a fixed location, how fast (at what rate) is the Pacific plate moving?

Answer 1

`3.2048179721* 10^(-9)\ m/s`

Step-by-step explanation:

Assuming that the pacific plate moved 178 km in 1.76 million years.

s = Distance = 178 km

t = Time taken = 1.76 million years

Speed is given by

`v=(s)/(t)\\\Rightarrow v=(178000)/(1.76* 10^6* 365.25* 24* 3600)\\\Rightarrow v=3.2048179721* 10^(-9)\ m/s`

The speed of the plate is
`3.2048179721* 10^(-9)\ m/s`