How Many Gallons Are in an Ocean?

Materials: calculator, two index cards

Work alone or in pairs.

The table shows various dimensions of the oceans, seas, and gulfs of the world.

Name	Area (Square Miles)	Average Depth (Feet)
Pacific Ocean	64,186,300	12,925
Atlantic Ocean	33,420,000	11,730
Indian Ocean	28,350,000	12,598
Arctic Ocean	5,105,700	3407
South China Sea	1,148,500	4802
Caribbean Sea	971,400	8448
Mediterranean Sea	969,100	4926
Bering Sea	873,000	4893
Gulf of Mexico	582,100	5297
Sea of Okhotsk	537,500	3192
Sea of Japan	391,100	5468
Hudson Bay	261,900	305
East China Sea	256,600	620
Andaman Sea	218,100	3667
Black Sea	196,100	3906
Red Sea	174,900	1764
North Sea	164,900	308
Baltic Sea	147,500	180
Yellow Sea	113,500	121
Persian Gulf	88,800	328
Gulf of California	59,100	2375

Source: The World Almanac

Procedure for the Activity

Step 1 An estimate for the volume of water in any of the bodies of water given in the table can be found by multiplying the area of the surface of the water by the average depth. However, note that the area is in square miles and the depth is in feet. The Yellow Sea has the least depth of the bodies of water given. Estimate the volume of the Yellow Sea in cubic feet. Express the answer in scientific notation and standard notation. You will need the fact that one mile is 5280 feet.
Step 2 Use your estimate from Step 1. How many gallons of water are in the Yellow Sea? Express the answer in scientific notation and standard notation. You will need the fact that one gallon is exactly 231 cubic inches.
Step 3 Select three more bodies of water from the table. Find the number of gallons of water in each body of water. Express the answer in scientific notation and standard notation.
Step 4 Suppose a swimming pool in the shape of a rectangular prism measures 25 feet long by 15 feet wide by 5 feet deep. If you emptied the Yellow Sea into swimming pools with these dimensions, how many pools could you fill with the water?

Wrapping Up the Activity

Write a problem using the table at the beginning of this activity. Write the problem on one of the index cards. Write the complete solution on the second index card. Exchange your problem with another student or group. Have the student or group check their solution using your solution index card.