Question

The cruise ship Oasis of the Seas has a gross weight of approximately 220,000,000 pounds. Although pure water has a density of 62.4 pounds per cubic foot, ocean water has a density of approximately 65 pounds per cubic foot. When the Oasis of the Seas travels across the ocean, how many cubic feet of water is displaced by its hull?

Answer 1

By carefully reading the question, we are able to discern from its wording the fact that Oasis of the Seas is not a submarine. Instead, wherever she sails, she is expected to float on the surface of the briny deep.

A floating object displaces water equal to its own weight.

So the Oasis must displace

(approx 220,000,000 lbs)/(65 lbs/ft³) =

approx 3,384,615 ft³ of sea water