Q1

• Average thickness of oceanic • Draw a sketch

crust: 6km
• Density: 2900 kg/m3
P2
• The crust is overlain by 5 km of
water (ρw = 1000 kg/m3)
• Determine the force per unit at
the base of the oceanic crust • P2=ρwghw + ρocghoc (make sure all units are in
meter)

• Solution: 219x108 kgm-1s-2

• 219 MPa
Remember the equilibrium formula!
• We formulate the hydrostatic equilibrium:
ρch=ρmb
• Where
• ρc = density of the continent (2750 kg/m-3)
• ρm=density of the mantle (3300 kg/m-3)
• h=thickness of the continent (35 km)
• b=depth to which the continent sinks

• How high is the continent above the mantle?

h-b=h-h(ρc/ρm)=h(1-(ρc/ρm))

2
Q2 Solution:
• Draw a sketch
• A mountain range has an elevation of
5 km.
• Density of the Mantle ρm = 3300 kg/m3
• Density of the Continental crust ρc =
2800 kg/m3
• The “normal’ thickness of the crust is
35 km (this time we use units km!) • R=T2-T1-5km
• H2=H1+5km
• Assuming, that the range is in
• How high is the continent rising out of the mantle?
equilibrium, determine the total
• H1=T1(1-(ρc/ρm))
thickness of the crust beneath the
• H1=35km(1-(2800/3300)=5.3km
mountain range.
Q2 (cont.)
• A mountain range has an elevation of • What is the total thickness of the
5 km. crust under the mountain?
• Density of the Mantle ρm = 3300 kg/m3 • T2=H2(ρm/(ρm-ρc))
• Density of the Continental crust ρc = • T2=10.3(3300/(3300-2800))=68 km
2800 kg/m3
• The “normal’ thickness of the crust is
35 km (this time we use units km!)
• Assuming, that the range is in • How deep is the root?
equilibrium, determine the total • R=T2-T1-2km
thickness of the crust beneath the
mountain range. • R=68 km – 35 km – 5 km = 28 km