Look at the map-view diagram of the Hawaiian Islands above. …
Look at the map-view diagram of the Hawaiian Islands above. All of these islands are on the Pacific Plate and were produced by the same hot spot. Basalts of Kauai (in the upper left, northwestern part of the diagram) are approximately 5 million years old. On the big Island of Hawaii, some basalts are 0 years old (formed by ongoing eruption in the present day). Assuming this hot spot to have been stationary during this time period, what is the average rate of Pacific plate motion over the last 5 million years? (Note: also assume that Kauai is 500 km from the recent eruptions.)
Read Details