The Solid Earth

Chapter 5
Answers to selected questions

(1) Use Eq. 5.15 with g=9.81 ms-2, r=6371 km.

9.81x(6371 × 10 3 )2
ME =
6.67 × 10 −11
= 59.7 × 10 23
= 5.97 × 10 24 kg

(2) Use Eq. 5.1 with the mass of Newton m1, 60kg and the mass of the apple m2,
100 gm.
6.67 × 10 −11 × 60 × 0.1
F=
0.32
= 4.45 × 10 −9 N
If the apple hit Newton assume r=10 cm:

6.67 × 10 −11 × 60 × 0.1

F=
0.12
= 4.00 × 10 −8 N

(3) Use Eq. 5.1.

On the Moon the astronaut’s weight
6.67 × 10 −11 × 7.4 × 10 22 × 60
=
(1738 × 10 3 )2
980 × 1011
=
1012
= 98 N
On Earth the astronaut’s weight would be 60 × 9.81 = 589 N
(4) (a) Use Eq. 5.22 with the angular velocity of the Earth 7.292 x 10-5 rad s-1
(Appendix 7; using sidereal day)
1
2π  4π 2 r 3  2
= 
7.292 ×10−5  6.67 ×10−11 × 5.98 ×10 24 
(6.67 × 5.98 ×10 ) = r
13
3
−5 2
(7.292 ×10 )
7.501×10 23 = r 3
r = 4.217 ×10 7 m
= 4.217 ×10 4 km
Thus geostationary satellites orbit at some 35,800 km above the Earth’s
surface (orbital radius less Earth equatorial radius)
€ Use Eq. 5.22:
(b)
1
 4π 2 × (6571 × 10 3 )3  2
T =
 6.67 × 10 −11 × 5.98 × 10 24 
1
(
= 280 × 10 5 ) 2

= 5.29 × 10 3 s
= 88 min
(c) Use Eq. 5.22:
1
 4π 2 × (1938 × 10 3 )3  2
T =
 6.67 × 10 −11 × 7.40 × 10 22 
1
(
= 5.82 × 10 7 ) 2

= 7.63 × 10 3 s
= 127 min

(5) Use Eq. 5.22:

1
 4π 2 r 3  2
28 × 24 × 60 × 60 =  −11 24 
 6.67 × 10 × 5.97 × 10 
r 3 = 5.607 × 10 25
r = 3.83 × 10 8 m
= 3.83 × 10 5 km
(6) Modify Eq. 5.22. Consider the Earth to be orbiting the Sun once a year:
 4 π 2 × 1.5 ×10 8 ×10 3 3 1 2
365.24 × 24 × 60 × 60 = 
( )
−11
 6.67 ×10 × M 
 
2.00 ×10 45
M=
9.96 ×1014
= 2 ×10 30 kg

(7) See Thompson (1987).

€
(8) (
r = Ro 1 − f sin 2 λ )
arc length is rθ
π
1 degree is radians
180
Length of 1 degree at the equator is
Reπ 6378.14 × π
=
180 180
= 111.32 km
Length of 1 degree at the pole is
R pπ ( )
6378.14 × 1 − 1 298.47 × π
=
180 180
= 110.95 km
Difference in length is 0.37 km.

(9) Use Eq. 5.17.

Latitude of source 47.5°N, radius = 6366 km.
Latitude of mouth 29°N, radius = 6373 km.
Elevation of source, 0.5 km.
The source of the Mississippi is therefore over 6 km closer to the centre of the
Earth than the mouth.

(10) See Thompson (1987).

(11) Use Eq. 5.19.

Gravity at equator = 9.7803185 ms-2
Gravity at pole = 9.8321772 ms-2
Difference = 0.0518587 ms-2 = 5185.87 mgal = 51858.7 gu
(12) (a) Use Airy’s hypothesis (Eq. 5.4). Thickness of continental crust is H.
5 × 1030 + 6.6 × 2900 + ( H − 11.6 ) × 3300 = 2900H
400H = 11.6 × 3300 − 5 × 1030 − 6.6 × 2900
H = 35 km

(13) (a) Pratt’s hypothesis. Use Eq. 5.29.

 35 
Density beneath mountain = 2800 ×   = 2450 kgm −3
 35 + 5 
(b) Airy’s hypothesis. Use Eq. 5.24.
 5 × 2800 
Root beneath mountain =  = 28 km
 3300 − 2800 
Total thickness of crust in mountain region is 68 km.

(14) (a) Assume continental crust thickness 35 km, density, 2800 kgm-3.
Airy’s hypothesis, use Eq. 5.24:
Root = 22.4 km. Total crust thickness = 4+35+22.4=61.4 km.
Erode 2km of crust so new thickness is 59.4 km. Mountain height, h.
59.4 × 2800 = 35 × 2800 + ( 59.4 − 35 − h ) × 3300
h = 3.70 km
(b) Erode 10km of crust so new thickness is 51.4 km.
51.4 × 2800 = 35 × 2800 + ( 51.4 − 35 − h ) × 3300
h = 2.48 km
(c) To bring mountains to sea level, the crust must be brought to a thickness of
35 km. Total to be eroded, 26.4 km.

(15) (a) Use Eq. 9.1.

Assume depression is not filled with water,
 3300 
sandstone thickness = 500 × 
 3300 − 2200 
= 1500 m
Assume depression is filled with water,
 3300 − 1000 
sandstone thickness = 500 × 
 3300 − 2200 
= 1045 m

(b) Ironstone density of ca 3400 kgm-3 is greater than uppermost mantle

density, 3300 kgm-3. Hence ironstone should subside some way into the
mantle.
(16) Airy model. Assume continental crust thickness H, density 2900 kgm-3,
mantle density 3300 kgm-3, plateau height, h.

If H=35 km, then h=4.24 km. The total thickness of crust that has to be
eroded to remove the plateau is 35 km.

(17)

Assume isostasy
dρ w + L(0) + ( L( t ) − L(0) + x ) ρ a = dρ w + xρ w + L( t ) ρ l
L(0) ρ l + L( t ) ρ a − L(0) ρ a + xρ a = xρ w + L( t ) ρ l
L(0)( ρ l − ρ a ) + L( t )( ρ a − ρ l ) + x ( ρ a − ρ w ) = 0
x ( ρ a − ρ w ) = L( t )( ρ l − ρ a ) − L(0)( ρ l − ρ a )
 ρ − ρa 
x = ( L( t ) − L(0)) l 
 ρa − ρw 
 ρ − ρa 
Depth of seabed is x + d = d + ( L( t ) − L(0)) l 
 ρa − ρw 

(18) (a) Use Eq. 5.45 with x=0

€ b=1 km, Δρ=300 kgm-3
(i) h=1 km, maximum gravity anomaly: 8.37x10-5 ms-2 = 83.7 gu.
(ii) h=2 km, maximum gravity anomaly: 2.09x10-5 ms-2 = 20.9 gu.
(iii) h=15 km, maximum gravity anomaly: 0.037x10-5 ms-2 = 0.37 gu.

(b) b=1 km, Δρ=300 kgm-3

x=1 km (i) h=1 km Δg=2.96x10-5 ms-2 = 29.6 gu
(ii) h=2 km Δg=1.50x10-5 ms-2 = 15.0 gu
(iii) h=15 km Δg=3.7x10-7 ms-2 = 0.37 gu
x=5 km (i) h=1 km Δg=6.3x10-7 ms-2 = 0.63 gu
(ii) h=2 km Δg=1.07x10-6 ms-2 = 1.07 gu
(iii) h=15 km Δg=3.2x10-7 ms-2 = 0.32 gu
 x=10 km (i) h=1 km Δg=8.3x10-8 ms-2 = 0.08 gu
(ii) h=2 km Δg=1.6x10-7 ms-2 = 0.16 gu
(iii) h=15 km Δg=2.1x10-7 ms-2 = 0.21 gu

(19) (a) Use Eq. 5.46.

b=1 km, Δρ=200 kgm-3, d=1 km

maximum δ g =
6.67 × 10 −11 × 200 × 2π × 10 3 ( ) × 1000
2
1000
= 6.67 × 2 × 2π × 10 −6
= 83.8 × 10 −6 ms −2
= 83.8 gu

Δρb 2
(b) For b=50 km, d=100 km, is the same:
d
2
1000 2 Δρ × ( 50 × 1000 )
200 × =
1000 100 × 1000
200 × 100
Δρ =
50 2
= 8 kgm −3

(c) Deep density anomalies cause long wavelength gravity anomalies,

whereas shallow density anomalies yield short wavelength gravity
anomalies.

(20) Geoid height anomaly is

2π G D
Δρ(z)zdz
g ∫0
Δh = −

πG
=−
g
( 0 D
 ρl z 2  − h + ( ρl − ρu ) z 2  0
1
)
πG
=−
g
(
− ρl h12 + ( ρl − ρu ) D 2 )
 Use
 D 
ρl = ρu 
 h1 + D 
ρu h
ρl − ρu = −
h+D
in the equation for Δh:
2
πG   D  2 ρu hD 
Δh = − − ρu  h −
g   h + D  h + D 
π G ρu hD
= (h + D)
g h+D
πG
= ρu hD
g
With ρu =2800 kgm-3, D=35 km,
π × 6.67 × 10 −11
Δh = × 2800 × h × 10 3 × 35 × 10 3
9.81
π × 6.67 × 2.8 × 3.5
= × 10 −1 × h
9.81
= 2.09h metres
A increase in ocean depth of 2 km therefore results in a geoid height
anomaly of 4 m.

(21) (a) Use Eq. 5.48: gΔh = −ΔV

The gravitational potential anomaly measured on the spheroid is −gΔh
For Δh=3 m. ΔV=-29.4 m2s-2
(b) For Δh=-5 m, ΔV=49.1 m2s-2
(c) For Δh=8 m. ΔV=-78.5 m2s-2

(22) (a) Wisconsin ice sheet, thickness 3.5 km, ice density 917 kg m-3
35 ×10 3 × 2800 + ( 3.5 − h ) ×10 3 × 3300 = 3.5 ×10 3 × 917 + 35 ×10 3 × 2800
3.5 × ( 3300 − 917) = h × 3300
3.5 × 2383
h=
3300
= 2.5 km
So the depression of the ground surface is 1.0 km.

(b) Fennoscandian ice sheet, thickness 2.5 km.

€ 2.5 ×10 3 × 2383 = h ×10 3 × 3300
h = 1.8 km
The depression of the ground surface is 0.7 km.

€
(24) 76 men @ 70 kg, approaching to ca 5 m.
6.67 ×10−11 × 76 × 70
acceleration =
52
= 1.4 ×10−8 ms-2
= 0.014 gu