The average density of the Earth is approximately 5,517 kg/m³. To understand how we arrive at this value, we need to consider the mass and volume of the Earth.
The Earth’s mass is given as 5.97 x 10²⁴ kg, and its average radius is about 6,370 km. To find the density, we use the formula:
First, we calculate the volume of the Earth. The formula for the volume of a sphere is:
Volume = (4/3) * π * r³Using the Earth’s radius in meters (6,370 km = 6,370,000 m), we find:
Volume = (4/3) * π * (6,370,000 m)³Calculating this gives us a volume of approximately 1.08321 x 10²¹ m³.
Now, substituting the values into the density equation:
Density = (5.97 x 10²⁴ kg) / (1.08321 x 10²¹ m³)Doing the division results in an average density of about 5,517 kg/m³. This value indicates that Earth is denser than many other planets and celestial bodies in our solar system, primarily because it contains a significant amount of heavy elements like iron and nickel in its core.