Question

Express the answer in scientific notation. What is the pressure, in N/m2, at a depth of 50 km in the continental crust?

Answer 1

Answer:

1.422$\times 10^9$ N/m²

Explanation:

pressure (P) =  ρ g h

where ρ= density of continental crust

          g= acceleration due to gravity

          h is the depth given

density of continental crust is equal to 2.9 g/cm³

    = $\frac{2.9\times 10^{-3}}{10^{-6} } =2.9\times 10^3 kg/m^3$

g=9.81 m/s²

height = 50,000 m

now,

pressure (P) = ρ g h

pressure (P) =$2.9\times 10^3\times 9.81\times 50000$

                    =1.422$\times 10^9$ N/m²