Tectonic plates are large segments of the Earth's crust that move slowly. Suppose that one such plate has an average speed of 3.5 cm/year. (a) What distance does it move in 1 s at this speed?

Distance = 3.5/31536000 cm = 1.11 * 10^ (-7) cm

Explanation:

Given;

Average speed = 3.5cm/year

Time = 1 s

Distance = speed * time

Number of seconds in a year = 31536000 sec/year

Distance = 3.5 cm/year * 1/31536000sec/year * 1 s

Distance = 3.5/31536000 cm = 1.11 * 10^ (-7) cm