Due to continental drift, the North American and European continents are drifting apart at an average speed of about 3 cm per year. At this speed, how long (in years) will it take for them to drift apart by another 961.6m?
To find the time it takes for the North American and European continents to drift apart by 961.6m, we need to convert the given speed from centimeters to meters.
Since 1 meter equals 100 centimeters, the speed of drifting is 3 cm per year, which is equivalent to 3/100 = 0.03 meters per year.
Now we can calculate the time it takes by dividing the distance (961.6m) by the speed (0.03m/year):
Time = Distance / Speed
Time = 961.6m / 0.03m/year
Simplifying this equation gives us:
Time = 32,053.33 years
Therefore, it will take approximately 32,053 years for the North American and European continents to drift apart by another 961.6m.