"Some of these expressions," said Barbicane, "are known; the others have to be calculated."
"I will calculate those," said Nicholl.
"And r," resumed Barbicane, "r is the radius of the earth under the latitude of Florida, our point of departure, d—that is to say, the distance from the centre of the earth to the centre of the moon equals fifty-six terrestrial radii—"
Nicholl rapidly calculated.
"That makes 356,720,000 metres when the moon is at her perigee—that is to say, when she is nearest to the earth."
"Very well," said Barbicane, "now m prime upon m—that is to say, the proportion of the moon's volume to that of the earth equals 1/81."
"Perfect," said Michel.
"And g, the gravity, is to Florida 9-1/81 metres. From whence it results that gr equals—"
"Sixty-two million four hundred and twenty-six thousand square metres," answered Nicholl.
"What next?" asked Michel Ardan.