How slowly do plates move? Use the Sim to measure how far plates move from each other over time and use your measurements to calculate the rate of plate motion 1. Open the Plate Motion Sim.
2. Go to Region 2 of the Sim.
3. Add a GPS marker to each plate as close as possible to each other and to the plate boundary.
4. Press SET BOUNDARY and select Divergent as the plate boundary type. Then press RUN.
5. During the run, press Pause approximately every 50 million years. Record the time in the first column of the table below. Observe the distance between the two pins by pressing on either pin and reading the distance to the other and then record that number in the Distance column. You can press the Reset button in the top right corner to replay the Sim.
6. Calculate the rate for each pair of distances and times by dividing the distance by the time. Record those numbers in the Rate column. Fill out the data table below, using evidence from the Sim.