Exercise #1

A Check on the Layered Structure of the Earth

Answer the questions below using the information in
Handout 1 and Handout 2, material presented in class
and the data listed. Show your work.

The distance between Minneapolis and the northwest shore of 
Lake Ci, 300 km due west of New Orleans is 1,666 kms.  On 
June 21st. the sun is 60 degrees above the horizon at noon 
on the northwest shore of Lake Ci and 45 degrees above the 
horizon at the same time in Minneapolis.

	Volume of a sphere = 4/3*pi*radius**3  

The acceleration due to gravity at sea level in New Orleans is 
9.8 m/sec**2 and the gravitational constant is 6.672*10**(-11) 
newton*meter**2/kilogram**2

1. Estimate the volume of the Earth from the above data.

2. Estimate the mass of the Earth from the above data.

3. From your  answers to questions 1 and 2, estimate the average
   density of the Earth.

4. Do your results indicate that the material in the interior of
   the Earth is less dense or more dense than rocks exposed at 
   the surface of the Earth?

   Explain and discuss the significance of your answer.