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Name: Gillard
Status: Other
Age: N/A
Location: 20s 
Country: United States
Date: November 21, 2005
Question:
If the earth was a perfect smooth sphere how deep would the water level be?


Replies:
The average radius of the earth is about 6400km. The volume of ocean water ( the major source of water on earth -- see the interesting web site:

http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthwherewater.html

is about 1.3x10^9 km^3. If the earth were a smooth sphere with a shell of water, the average depth dR = dV/ 4 x pi x R^2 where dR is the average depth, pi = 3.14, R = 6400km. Plugging in the numbers gives a depth of about 2.5 km. (~ 1.6 miles).

Vince Calder


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