Use the formula (island distance from hotspot ÷ island age) to calculate the rate of movement for

each island in the chart, then multiply by .1 to convert from kilometers per million years to
centimeters per year. Round your answers to the nearest tenth.
Island Distance (km) ÷ Age (Ma) x Conversion factor = Rate (cm/yr)
Molokaÿi 290 ÷ 1.8 x .1 =
Kauaÿi 519 ÷ 5 x .1 =
Midway 2432 ÷ 28 x .1 =
Suiko 4860 ÷ 65 x .1 =

1 answer

To calculate the rate of movement for each island, we can follow the formula you provided:

\[ \text{Rate (cm/yr)} = \left(\frac{\text{Island Distance (km)}}{\text{Island Age (Ma)}}\right) \times 0.1 \]

Now, let's calculate the rate for each island step by step.

Molokaÿi

\[ \text{Rate} = \left(\frac{290 , \text{km}}{1.8 , \text{Ma}}\right) \times 0.1 \] \[ = \left(161.1111\right) \times 0.1 = 16.1 , \text{cm/yr} \]

Kauaÿi

\[ \text{Rate} = \left(\frac{519 , \text{km}}{5 , \text{Ma}}\right) \times 0.1 \] \[ = \left(103.8\right) \times 0.1 = 10.4 , \text{cm/yr} \]

Midway

\[ \text{Rate} = \left(\frac{2432 , \text{km}}{28 , \text{Ma}}\right) \times 0.1 \] \[ = \left(86.2857\right) \times 0.1 = 8.6 , \text{cm/yr} \]

Suiko

\[ \text{Rate} = \left(\frac{4860 , \text{km}}{65 , \text{Ma}}\right) \times 0.1 \] \[ = \left(74.9231\right) \times 0.1 = 7.5 , \text{cm/yr} \]

Summary of Rates

  • Molokaÿi: 16.1 cm/yr
  • Kauaÿi: 10.4 cm/yr
  • Midway: 8.6 cm/yr
  • Suiko: 7.5 cm/yr