Noah’s ark has been described as having the following dimensions: 300 cubits long * 50 cubits wide * 30 cubits high . If a cubit is 18 inches, how many people could fit into the ark?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
To determine how many people could fit into Noah’s Ark, we can start by calculating its total volume based on the given dimensions, and then estimate how many people could fit inside based on reasonable assumptions for space allocation.
Step 1: Convert the Dimensions to Inches
The dimensions of Noah’s Ark are given as 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high, with one cubit being equivalent to 18 inches. First, we convert the measurements to inches:
- Length: 300 cubits × 18 inches/cubit = 5,400 inches
- Width: 50 cubits × 18 inches/cubit = 900 inches
- Height: 30 cubits × 18 inches/cubit = 540 inches
Step 2: Calculate the Volume of the Ark
Now that we have the dimensions of the Ark in inches, we can calculate the volume of the Ark. Volume is given by the formula:
[
\text{Volume} = \text{Length} \times \text{Width} \times \text{Height}
]
Substituting the dimensions:
[
\text{Volume} = 5,400 \, \text{inches} \times 900 \, \text{inches} \times 540 \, \text{inches}
]
[
\text{Volume} = 2,626,200,000 \, \text{cubic inches}
]
Step 3: Estimate How Much Space One Person Takes
Next, we make a reasonable assumption about the amount of space required for one person. Let’s assume that each person requires roughly 2 square feet of floor space, and they would need about 5 feet of headroom. This gives us a volume of space per person of approximately:
[
\text{Volume per person} = 2 \, \text{sq ft} \times 5 \, \text{ft} = 10 \, \text{cubic feet}
]
Since 1 cubic foot = 1,728 cubic inches, the volume per person in cubic inches is:
[
10 \, \text{cubic feet} \times 1,728 \, \text{cubic inches/cubic foot} = 17,280 \, \text{cubic inches}
]
Step 4: Calculate How Many People Can Fit in the Ark
Finally, we can calculate the number of people who can fit in the Ark by dividing the total volume of the Ark by the volume per person:
[
\text{Number of people} = \frac{2,626,200,000 \, \text{cubic inches}}{17,280 \, \text{cubic inches/person}} \approx 151,200 \, \text{people}
]
Conclusion
Based on the volume calculations and space estimates, approximately 151,200 people could fit into Noah’s Ark, assuming each person requires about 10 cubic feet of space. This is, of course, a rough estimate, as the actual number would depend on factors like the interior layout of the Ark, storage space for food and supplies, and living conditions. However, this calculation gives a good approximation.