Question

The current theory of the structure of the earth, called plate tectonics, tells us that the continents are in constant motion. Assume that the North America continent can be represented by a slab of rock 5500 km on a side and 29 km deep and that the rock has an average mass density of 2960 kg/m3.

The continent is moving at the rate of about 5 cm/year.

a) What is the mass of the continent? in Kg

b) what is the kinetic energy of the continent? In J

c)A jogger (of mass 73 kg) has the same kinetic energy of the continent. What would his speed be? in m/s

Answer 1