Final answer:
To calculate the volume of ice in Antarctica, the formula for the volume of a cylinder is used with the given radius and average thickness of the ice. After converting these measurements to centimeters and calculating, the volume of ice is approximately 6.727 x 10^19 cubic centimeters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question pertains to the calculation of the volume of ice in Antarctica assuming it is semi-circular and has an average thickness. To calculate the volume of ice, we use the formula for the volume of a cylinder, V = πr^2h, where V is the volume, r is the radius, and h is the height, or in this case, the average thickness of the ice cover. Converting the dimensions from kilometers and meters to centimeters, we have a radius of 2,100,000 cm and a thickness of 310,000 cm. Therefore, the volume V is given by π * (2,100,000)^2 * 310,000 cubic centimeters.
After calculating, we find that the volume of ice is approximately V = 6.727 × 10^{19} cubic centimeters. This value represents the massive amount of ice covering Antarctica, which is critical to understanding both the physical geography of the continent and the implications for global water levels and climate change if this ice were to melt.