Question

1. Calculate the size of the universe, in two ways a) rate of expansion (100 km/s) multiplied by time since the big bang (14 B yr). b) distance traveled by light from the furthest star (42 B light yr), where l light yr = 9.41012 km. Give the answer in km. 2. The approximate position of Puerto Rico is given in the table below. Calculate the rate of'drift in each era from plate tectonics, and give the answer in km/yr Assume that 1 degree 10 km. Lat (NNLon (W) 85 ) M 50 M y 3. Calculate the rate of 'spreading' of the Atlantic Ocean (km/yr) with the maps below. Longitudes are labeled at 60° interval, 10 km. 120 60 0 0 120 60 Show calculations, exponents, and units in your answers. Note that for test-, not here in the practical: you will be asked to make a drawing of the timeline of earth evolution, including geological and biological phases with dates (millions of years ago)

Answer 1

Size of universe a) 100 times 10 times 10^9 times 365 times 24 times 60 times 60 = 4.415 times 10^10 times 10^9 = 4.415 times 10^19 km b) Distance travelled by star to the fastest star 42 B lyl = 42 times 10^9 = 42 times 10^9 times 9.4 times 10^12 = 394.8 times 10^20 = 39.48 times 10^19 km 2) latitudinal velocity V_lat = (18 - 13) times 100/50 times 10^6 = 10 times 10^-6 km/yr Longitudinal velocity V_long = 66 - 74 times 100/50 times 10^6 = 800/50 times 10^6 = 16 times 10^-6 km/yr