To determine how many years it will take for the plates to collide, given that the plates are initially 10,000 kilometers apart and moving toward each other at a constant rate of 4 kilometers per year, we can use the following step-by-step approach:
1. Identify the distance: The two plates are 10,000 kilometers apart.
2. Identify the rate of movement: The plates are moving toward each other at a rate of 4 kilometers per year.
3. Determine the time formula: To find the time required for the plates to collide, you can use the formula:
[tex]\[ \text{Time} = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Rate}} \][/tex]
4. Substitute the known values into the formula:
[tex]\[ \text{Time} = \frac{10,000 \text{ km}}{4 \text{ km/year}} \][/tex]
5. Calculate the time:
[tex]\[ \text{Time} = 2,500 \text{ years} \][/tex]
So, the plates will collide after 2,500 years.
The correct answer is:
2,500 years
