The north pole is in the middle of the ocean. A person at sea level at the north pole would be 3,949 miles from the center of the earth. The sea floor below the north pole is at an elevation of approximately -2.7 miles. The elevation of the south pole is about 1.7 miles. How far is a person standing on the south pole from a submarine at the sea floor below the north pole?
To find the distance between the person at the south pole and the submarine at the sea floor below the north pole, we need to calculate the combined distances from each location to the center of the earth and then subtract the distance between the two locations.
Distance from person at south pole to center of the earth = 3,949 miles + 1.7 miles = 3,950.7 miles
Distance from submarine at sea floor below north pole to center of the earth = 3,949 miles - 2.7 miles = 3,946.3 miles
Therefore, the distance between the person at the south pole and the submarine at the sea floor below the north pole is:
3,950.7 miles + 3,946.3 miles = 7,897 miles
So, a person standing on the south pole is 7,897 miles away from a submarine at the sea floor below the north pole.