Assignment 4: Documenting Plate Motion

Introduction

Geodesy, the science of measuring the Earth's shape and positions on it, allows the measurement of plate motion directly using GPS, the Global Positioning System. This network of satellites is more stable than the Earth's surface, so when a whole continent moves somewhere at a few centimeters per year, GPS can tell.

They can move at rates of up to four inches (10 centimeters) per year, but most move much slower than that. Different parts of a plate move at different speeds. The plates move in different directions, colliding, moving away from, and sliding past one another. Most plates are made of both oceanic and continental crust.

Directions: 

1) This assignment is designed to assist you in learning the concepts of this module as well as assess your understanding and application of the content. Since this assignment is a combined Formative and  Summative Assessment of the module, it is considered a high-stakes assignment and will have a significant impact on your grade. To ensure that you understand and can apply the content, you will be provided two (2) opportunities to complete this assignment with the highest grade being kept as your final grade. Both attempts must be completed and submitted before the due date or the late policy will be applied to both submissions. This is a setting in Canvas I cannot control. No modifications will be made as you have been made aware of this setting. 

2) This assignment has no time limit and does not have to be completed in one sitting. Please do not click Submit Assignment until you have completed it. This assignment must be completed by the due date or the 10%/ day late policy will be applied to your grade. 

3) To begin this assignment, click the "Take the Quiz" button below.