Answered

A plate is moving at a rate of 4 [tex]$\text{cm/year}$[/tex] towards another plate that is [tex]$10,000 \text{ km}$[/tex] away. In how many years will the plates collide?

A. 250 million years
B. 2,500 years
C. 25 thousand years
D. 250,000 years



Answer :

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

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