<p>As this is a homework problem I don't think I can answer what you have posted.</p>

<p>I think you have confused Airy's stress function with his concept of isotasy.  For some helpful information to get you pointed in the right way try the Wikipedia article on isostasy:</p>

<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isostasy" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isostasy</a></p>

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2018-02-05T05:45:05.083Z
2018-02-05T07:01:03.767Z
2018-02-05T07:01:03.767Z
verisimilidude
<p>I have this problem, and I am not sure where to start.  The only Airy equation in my text is $r_1= \frac{h_1 \cdot p_u}{p_s - p_u}$.  This doesn't seem to apply, or if it does it isn't obvious.  Is there some other equation I should be using?</p>

<p>A mountain range 4 km high is in Airy isostatic equilibrium. (10 points)</p>

<p>(a) During a period of erosion, a 2 km thickness of material is removed from the mountains. When the new isostatic equilibrium is achieved, how high are the mountains?</p>

<p>(b) How much material must be eroded to bring the mountains eventually down to the sea level? Use the crust and mantle densities of 2800 kg/m3 and 3300 km/m3, respectively.</p>

<p>C) How High would they be if 10km of material were eroded away?</p>

<geology><geophysics><homework><geodynamics>
What equation should I use in this isostasy problem?
spinelcity
# What equation should I use in this isostasy problem?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-02-05)

I have this problem, and I am not sure where to start. The only Airy equation in my text is $r\_1= \frac{h\_1 \cdot p\_u}{p\_s - p\_u}$. This doesn't seem to apply, or if it does it isn't obvious. Is there some other equation I should be using?

A mountain range 4 km high is in Airy isostatic equilibrium. (10 points)

(a) During a period of erosion, a 2 km thickness of material is removed from the mountains. When the new isostatic equilibrium is achieved, how high are the mountains?

(b) How much material must be eroded to bring the mountains eventually down to the sea level? Use the crust and mantle densities of 2800 kg/m3 and 3300 km/m3, respectively.

C) How High would they be if 10km of material were eroded away?

**Tags:** geology, geophysics, homework, geodynamics


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-02-05. Score: 1

As this is a homework problem I don't think I can answer what you have posted.

I think you have confused Airy's stress function with his concept of isotasy. For some helpful information to get you pointed in the right way try the Wikipedia article on isostasy:

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isostasy>


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