Question

read the scenario and answer question #5 below. marine biologists are studying the speed of different ocean currents. they release gps - equipped buoys and track their movement over time. here are their results: gulf stream: 32 kilometers in 5 hours kuroshio current: 45 kilometers in 6 hours antarctic circumpolar current: 20 kilometers in 4 hours calculate the average speed of each current in kilometers per hour. which current is the fastest? gulf stream: kuroshio current: antarctic circumpolar current: the __________ is the fastest.

Explanation:

Step1: Calculate Gulf Stream speed

Use speed formula $v = \frac{d}{t}$, where $d = 32$ km and $t = 5$ h. So $v_{Gulf}=\frac{32}{5}=6.4$ km/h.

Step2: Calculate Kuroshio Current speed

Here $d = 45$ km and $t = 6$ h. Then $v_{Kuroshio}=\frac{45}{6}=7.5$ km/h.

Step3: Calculate Antarctic Circumpolar Current speed

With $d = 20$ km and $t = 4$ h. So $v_{Antarctic}=\frac{20}{4}=5$ km/h.

Step4: Compare speeds

$7.5>6.4 > 5$, so Kuroshio Current is the fastest.

Answer:

Gulf Stream: 6.4 km/h
Kuroshio Current: 7.5 km/h
Antarctic Circumpolar Current: 5 km/h
The Kuroshio Current is the fastest.