Have you students calculate the speed of the moving Pacific Plate using the ages of rocks collected on the different islands.

Students measure the distance between the collection site and then work out the age difference between the sample.

They can then calculate the speed the plate must be moving over the Hawaiian Hotspot – giving an approximate speed and direction for the Pacific Plate.


Downloadable activity (Download)

Downloadable suggest answers (Download)

 

 

 

 

Rocks of Ages
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