Question

Europe and North America are moving apart by about 5 m per century. As the continents separate, new ocean floor is created along the mid-Atlantic Rift. If the rift is 5000 km long, what is the total area of new ocean floor created in the Atlantic each century?

Answer 1

Answer:

Area = 25km² in a century.

Explanation:

Given

Spread Rate = 5m/century

Length of rift = 5000km

Convert to metres

Length of rift = 5000 * 1000m

Length of rift = 5,000,000m

In one century, the additional area to Atlantis = (Rift Length) * (Spread rate) * 1 century

Atea = 5,000,000 m * 5m/century * 1 century

Area = 25,000,000m² in a century

----- Convert to km²

Area = 25,000,000km² * 1m²/1,000,000km²

Area = 25km² in a century.

Hence, the total area of new ocean floor created in the Atlantic each century is 25km²