Question

Compare the volume (V1) of the solid part of the core of the Earth to the volume (V2) of the whole core both by means of the percent difference and by a factor (e.g., the volume of the inner core is “x” % of the volume of the whole core and is “y” times larger than the inner core.).

Answer 1

Radius of the inner core = 1329 km

Radius of the whole core = 3471 km

Volume of a sphere: v = 4/3r3

V1 = (4 x 3.14 x (1329)3)/3 = 98.275 x 108km3

V2 = (4 x 3.14 x (3471)3)/3 = 1.7507 x 1011km3

The volume of the inner core is:

= (98.275 x 108 x 100)/(1.7507 x 1011) = 56 x 10-1 = 5.6%

The volume of the inner core is 5.6 % of the volume of the whole core

V2/V1 = (1.7507 x 1011)/(98.275 x 108) = 0.01781 x 103

v2 = 17.81V1 or V1 = 0.0561V2