During this activity, you will calculate the rate of Pacific Plate movement for different time periods.

Question

This will help you learn how the rate of Pacific Plate movement has changed over time. Complete the
hypothesis below by writing the correct answer (increasing or decreasing) in the blank.
If the same hotspot formed Suiko, Midway, Kauaÿi and Molokaÿi, then the rate of Pacific Plate movement
is _______________________ over time

Answer 1

If the same hotspot formed Suiko, Midway, Kaua'i, and Moloka'i, then the rate of Pacific Plate movement is decreasing over time.

This hypothesis is based on the understanding that when a stationary hotspot produces a series of volcanic islands as a tectonic plate moves over it, the distance between the most recent islands and older ones can indicate the plate's movement rate. As the plate continues to move, the formation of new islands occurs at a consistent rate but the apparent speed of island formation relative to the hotspot may give insights into changes in the plate's movement over geological time. If older islands are closer together than newer ones, it suggests that the plate was moving faster in the past, leading to the conclusion that the rate has decreased.