Trying to resolve a volume calculation

  • #1
narrator
228
12
Hi all, I've made errors in my calculations and need help.

I'm trying to calculate the volume of a layer above sea level to the height of Flight Level 300 i.e. 30,000 feet. Next, I want to subtract the volume of land within that layer. Here are my calculations.
Purely for the sake of my calculations, I'll treat the earth as a perfect sphere, and I'll round 30,000feet to 10,000m.

1. The radius of the sphere of earth at sea level is approx 6,378,000m. That would make its volume approximately 1.08675x10^21 cu.m.

2. From the height of FL300 (30,000ft) or (rounded) 10,000m the radius increases to about 6,388,000m. The total volume of the larger sphere would be 1.09187x10^21cu.m

3. Subtracting one from the other leaves the volume of the layer at about 5.12x10^18cu.m.

4. There is no landmass above FL30. I've googled the total volume of all land masses within that layer (i.e. above sea level) and the only answer I can find (in 3 places) is 1 trillion cu.km or around 1x10^21cu.m. If this is true, then my calculations are badly wrong.

I would love your help with this? And thank you in advance.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
narrator said:
I've googled the total volume of all land masses within that layer (i.e. above sea level) and the only answer I can find (in 3 places) is 1 trillion cu.km or around 1x10^21cu.m.
I find a different estimate, 125,109,600 km3, here.
 
  • Like
Likes narrator and scottdave
  • #3
Hill said:
I find a different estimate, 125,109,600 km3, here.
Thanks for that. I found the Wiki article that your link refers to. Excellent! Much appreciated!
 
  • Like
Likes scottdave

1. How do I calculate the volume of a cube?

To calculate the volume of a cube, you simply need to multiply the length, width, and height of the cube together. The formula for the volume of a cube is V = l x w x h.

2. What is the formula for finding the volume of a cylinder?

The formula for finding the volume of a cylinder is V = πr^2h, where r is the radius of the base of the cylinder and h is the height of the cylinder.

3. How can I calculate the volume of a sphere?

To calculate the volume of a sphere, you can use the formula V = 4/3πr^3, where r is the radius of the sphere.

4. What is the formula for determining the volume of a rectangular prism?

The formula for determining the volume of a rectangular prism is V = l x w x h, where l is the length, w is the width, and h is the height of the prism.

5. How do I find the volume of a cone?

To find the volume of a cone, you can use the formula V = 1/3πr^2h, where r is the radius of the base of the cone and h is the height of the cone.

Similar threads

  • Precalculus Mathematics Homework Help
Replies
23
Views
3K
  • Precalculus Mathematics Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
18
Views
3K
  • Precalculus Mathematics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
10
Views
1K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
17
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • Precalculus Mathematics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
59K
  • General Math
Replies
2
Views
2K
Back
Top