Do you think that determining the velocity of one point on a plate is sufficient

Question

Do you think that determining the velocity of one point on a plate is sufficient to tell where the entire plate is moving? Why or why not?
Hint: Represent a plate using a piece of paper on a tabletop. Slide the paper a very short distance from its initial position across the tabletop, maybe with a bit of a twist of your wrist. Now consider whether you could reconstruct the motion of the piece of paper from initial to final position if you only have information about the motion of one point on the paper. Do you think that determining the velocity of one point on a plate is sufficient to tell where the entire plate is moving? Why or why not?
Hint: Represent a plate using a piece of paper on a tabletop. Slide the paper a very short distance from its initial position across the tabletop, maybe with a bit of a twist of your wrist. Now consider whether you could reconstruct the motion of the piece of paper from initial to final position if you only have information about the motion of one point on the paper.
Hint: Represent a plate using a piece of paper on a tabletop. Slide the paper a very short distance from its initial position across the tabletop, maybe with a bit of a twist of your wrist. Now consider whether you could reconstruct the motion of the piece of paper from initial to final position if you only have information about the motion of one point on the paper.

Explanation / Answer

The anwer is a big NO !!

When a point on a plate moves, it doesn't necessary mean that the entire plate is moving. Just like the paper example in the hint, continental plates tend to "fold" and "bend" like a paper. The continental plates are not enitely rigid, sometimes they act like a "fluid" where the stress experienced in a point does not mean that the stress is felt all along the continental plate.

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