Assuming that shear stress at the base of a mountain is equal to the force per unit area due to its weight, calculate the maximum possible height of a mountain on the earth if breaking shear stress for a typical rock is 30xx10^(7)N//m^(2) and its density 3xx10^(3)kg//m^(3).

Assuming that shear stress at the base of a mountain is equal to the f

1.	Assuming that shear stress at the base of a mountain is equal to the force per unit area due to its weight, calculate the maximum possible height of a mountain on the earth if breaking shear stress for a typical rock is 30xx10^(7)N//m^(2) and its density 3xx10^(3)kg//m^(3).
Answer» Solution :For a MOUNTAIN of heighth and base area A, WEIGHT `W= Ah rhog`. So PRESSURE at the base due to its own weight will be `p=(W)/(A)=h rhog` The mountain will exist if, `h rho G lt` Breaking SHEAR stress `i.e, h=(30xx10^(7))/(3xx10^(3)xx10) (or) (h)_(max)=10 km` which is nearly the height of Mount Everest.