This figure shows a northwest-southeast line of islands and seamounts near Hawaii.If location 3 has the oldest rocks and Hawaii (1)has the youngest rocks,which way is the plate moving with respect to the hot spot?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Assuming that the hotspot is currently stationary, the age progression of the islands/seamounts suggests that the Pacific Plate is moving in a northwest direction relative to the hotspot. As the plate moves, new volcanoes form and older ones become more distant and erode. Therefore, the distance and age of the islands/seamounts from the hotspot can be used to track the direction and speed of plate movement.

This Figure Shows a Northwest-Southeast Line of Islands and Seamounts