week 1

Question 1

how are plate motions described

Answer 1

all plate motions can be described by a rotation axis (euler pole) and an angular velocity

Question 2

what is euler’s fixed point theorem

Answer 2

the most general displacement of a rigid body over the surface of a sphere can be regarded as a rotation about a suitable axis which passes through the centre of that sphere

Question 3

how are fractures and faults formed

Answer 3

the end of the plate is nearer the EP at the surface, it moves slower than the other end nearer the Euler equator

Question 4

what is an euler pole

Answer 4

mathematical construct to describe plate motion

Question 5

what does R represent

Answer 5

radius

Question 6

what does lambda represent

Answer 6

latitude

Question 7

what does delta represent

Answer 7

colattitude (90 - lambda)

Question 8

equation of the motion of a plate/point (spreading rate)

Answer 8

described by angular velocity w
v = wR

Question 9

what is v(delta)

Answer 9

wRsindelta
v(delta) = max for delta = 90 degrees
i.e. at the Euler equator

Question 10

relationship between theta and azimuth

Answer 10

theta - az = 90 degrees