Introductory Geology Plate Tectonics
4.11 STUDENT RESPONSES
The following is a summary of the questions in this lab for ease in submitting answers online
1. Brazil - Latitude: 100 34’ 48.45” S Longitude: 360 34’ 03.34” W
2. Angola - Latitude: 10 45’ 16.78” S Longitude: 100 16’ 01.38” E
3. Measure in centimeters the distance (Map Length) between the two points you recorded in the
previous question. Given that this portion of Pangaea broke apart 200,000,000 years ago,
calculate how fast South America and Africa are separating in cm/year? (Hint: Speed=
Distance/Time)
Using Google distance Tool – Distance = 521,975,385. 36 cm
Speed = Distance/Time
Speed = 521,975,385.36 cm/ 200,000,000 years
Speed = 2.61 cm/year
4. When will the next supercontinent form? Examine the Western Coast of South America, the
Eastern Coast of Asia, and the Pacific Ocean. If South America and Africa are separating and the
Atlantic Ocean is growing, then the opposite must be occurring on the other side of the earth (the
Americas are getting closer to Asia and the Pacific Ocean is shrinking). How far apart are North
America and Mainland Asia in cm? (measure the distance across the Pacific at 40 degrees north
latitude- basically measure between Northern California and North Korea)? Take that distance
and divide it by the speed you calculated in question 3 to estimate when the next supercontinent
will form. Show your work!
Google distance along 400 latitude = 902,360,000 cm
Speed from above = 2.61 cm/year
Time to closure = 902,360,000 cm/ 2.61 cm/yr
Time to closure = 345,731,800 years or approximately 345.7 million years
5. How far have the snake fossils moved apart since they were originally deposited?
a. 1250 miles b. 1700 miles c. 2150 miles d. 2700 miles
6. Given that this portion of the Australian plate moves at a speed of 2.2 inches per year, how old
are the snake fossils?
a. 310 million years old b. 217 million years old
c. 98 million years old d. 62 million years old
e. 34 million years old
Work – 2150 miles (from 5) = 136,220,000 inches
, Introductory Geology Plate Tectonics
Speed = Distance/Time
2.2 in/yr = 136,220,000 in/Time
Time = 136,220,000 in /2.2 in.yr
Time – 61,918,181 years
7. There are fossils such as Glossopteris and Lystrosaurus that are found in rocks in South
America and Africa that indicate they were part of Pangaea approximately 200 million years ago.
These same fossils can be found in Australia, which indicates it, along with Antarctica, was also
part of Pangaea at that time. Based on your answer to question 6 which of the following
statements about the break-up of Pangaea is TRUE?
a. Australia and Antarctica separated before the break-up of Pangaea.
b. Australia and Antarctica separated during the break-up of Pangaea.
c. Australia and Antarctica separated after the break-up of Pangaea.
NOTE: I’m assuming the author of this lab considers the breakup of Pangaea to be 200,000,000
million years ago.
8. Consider the ages and positions of the islands listed above along with what you know about
plate tectonics and hotspots. In what general direction is the Pacific Plate moving?
a. Northwest b. Southeast c. Northeast d. Southwest
9. How fast was the Pacific plate moving during the last 1.1 million years between the formation
of the Big Island and Maui in cm/year? To calculate this divide the distance (in centimeters)
between the two islands by the difference in their ages.
Speed = Distance/Time
Speed = 14,657,787 cm/1,100,000 years
Speed = 13.32 cm/ year
10. How fast was the Pacific plate moving from 7.2 million years ago to 4.7 million years ago
between the formation of Kauai and Nihoa in cm/year? To calculate this divide the distance (in
centimeters) between the two islands by the difference in their ages.
Speed = Distance/Time
Distance = 27,225,412.68
Time = 7.2 my – 4.7my = 2.5 million years
Speed = Distance/Time
Speed = 27,225,412.68 cm/2,500,000 my
Speed = 10.89 cm/yr
4.11 STUDENT RESPONSES
The following is a summary of the questions in this lab for ease in submitting answers online
1. Brazil - Latitude: 100 34’ 48.45” S Longitude: 360 34’ 03.34” W
2. Angola - Latitude: 10 45’ 16.78” S Longitude: 100 16’ 01.38” E
3. Measure in centimeters the distance (Map Length) between the two points you recorded in the
previous question. Given that this portion of Pangaea broke apart 200,000,000 years ago,
calculate how fast South America and Africa are separating in cm/year? (Hint: Speed=
Distance/Time)
Using Google distance Tool – Distance = 521,975,385. 36 cm
Speed = Distance/Time
Speed = 521,975,385.36 cm/ 200,000,000 years
Speed = 2.61 cm/year
4. When will the next supercontinent form? Examine the Western Coast of South America, the
Eastern Coast of Asia, and the Pacific Ocean. If South America and Africa are separating and the
Atlantic Ocean is growing, then the opposite must be occurring on the other side of the earth (the
Americas are getting closer to Asia and the Pacific Ocean is shrinking). How far apart are North
America and Mainland Asia in cm? (measure the distance across the Pacific at 40 degrees north
latitude- basically measure between Northern California and North Korea)? Take that distance
and divide it by the speed you calculated in question 3 to estimate when the next supercontinent
will form. Show your work!
Google distance along 400 latitude = 902,360,000 cm
Speed from above = 2.61 cm/year
Time to closure = 902,360,000 cm/ 2.61 cm/yr
Time to closure = 345,731,800 years or approximately 345.7 million years
5. How far have the snake fossils moved apart since they were originally deposited?
a. 1250 miles b. 1700 miles c. 2150 miles d. 2700 miles
6. Given that this portion of the Australian plate moves at a speed of 2.2 inches per year, how old
are the snake fossils?
a. 310 million years old b. 217 million years old
c. 98 million years old d. 62 million years old
e. 34 million years old
Work – 2150 miles (from 5) = 136,220,000 inches
, Introductory Geology Plate Tectonics
Speed = Distance/Time
2.2 in/yr = 136,220,000 in/Time
Time = 136,220,000 in /2.2 in.yr
Time – 61,918,181 years
7. There are fossils such as Glossopteris and Lystrosaurus that are found in rocks in South
America and Africa that indicate they were part of Pangaea approximately 200 million years ago.
These same fossils can be found in Australia, which indicates it, along with Antarctica, was also
part of Pangaea at that time. Based on your answer to question 6 which of the following
statements about the break-up of Pangaea is TRUE?
a. Australia and Antarctica separated before the break-up of Pangaea.
b. Australia and Antarctica separated during the break-up of Pangaea.
c. Australia and Antarctica separated after the break-up of Pangaea.
NOTE: I’m assuming the author of this lab considers the breakup of Pangaea to be 200,000,000
million years ago.
8. Consider the ages and positions of the islands listed above along with what you know about
plate tectonics and hotspots. In what general direction is the Pacific Plate moving?
a. Northwest b. Southeast c. Northeast d. Southwest
9. How fast was the Pacific plate moving during the last 1.1 million years between the formation
of the Big Island and Maui in cm/year? To calculate this divide the distance (in centimeters)
between the two islands by the difference in their ages.
Speed = Distance/Time
Speed = 14,657,787 cm/1,100,000 years
Speed = 13.32 cm/ year
10. How fast was the Pacific plate moving from 7.2 million years ago to 4.7 million years ago
between the formation of Kauai and Nihoa in cm/year? To calculate this divide the distance (in
centimeters) between the two islands by the difference in their ages.
Speed = Distance/Time
Distance = 27,225,412.68
Time = 7.2 my – 4.7my = 2.5 million years
Speed = Distance/Time
Speed = 27,225,412.68 cm/2,500,000 my
Speed = 10.89 cm/yr
