a typical rate of plate movement on earth is?

Question

a. 3 meters per 1000 yrs
b. 30 meters per 1000 yrs
c. 300 meters per 1000 yrs
d. 3 kilometers per 1000 yrs
e. 30 kilometers per 1000 yrs.

Answer 1

The slowest moving rate is for the Artic Ridge (2.5 cm/yr; 25 m/1000 yrs)

The fastest rate is for the East Pacific Rise (15 cm/yr; 150 m per 1000 yrs)

The average rate must be between these values, so B (30 meters/1000 yrs) is the correct answer.

Answer 2

B)

According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_tectonics
"The lateral movement of the plates is typically at speeds of 0.66 to 8.50 centimeters per year (the speed at which human nails grow)."

8.5 centimeters/year = 0.085 centimeters/year = 85 meters per 1,000 years. So you have a range of 66 to 85 meters per 1000 years, answer B is the closest to that answer.

Before I do your homework for you and you don't learn anything please take the time to read the Wikipedia article.

NASA and others measure the tectonic plate movement all over the world. For specific values see this table: http://sideshow.jpl.nasa.gov/mbh/series.html

According to About.com: http://geology.about.com/library/bl/blnutshell_platemoves.htm
"These three methods—GPS, seafloor magnetization and paleopoles—combine into a smooth, integrated timeline for the motions of the lithospheric plates, a tectonic travelogue."

According to About.com: http://geology.about.com/library/bl/blnutshell_plate-tec.htm
"Plates move with respect to each other in three ways: they move together (converge), they move apart (diverge) or they move past each other. Therefore plates have three types of edges or boundaries: convergent, divergent and transform. In convergence, when the leading edge of a plate meets another plate, one of them turns downward. That downward motion is called subduction. Subducted plates move down into and through the asthenosphere and gradually disappear. "

Answer 3

Plates move about the same speed as your fingernails grow.

Answer 4

B me thinks