How Much Gelatin Does It Take to Solidify an Olympic-Sized Swimming Pool?

Have you ever wondered how much gelatin it would take to turn an Olympic-sized swimming pool full of water into a solid mass? This article explores the necessary calculations and considerations to determine the quantity of gelatin required.

Volume of an Olympic-Sized Swimming Pool

Let's first calculate the volume of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, which is a standard measurement for various sporting events. According to Olympic regulations, an Olympic swimming pool measures:

50 meters in length 25 meters in width 2 meters in minimum depth

The volume of the pool can be determined using this formula:

Volume Length × Width × Depth

50 meters × 25 meters × 2 meters 2500 m3

Since 1 cubic meter equals 1000 liters, the volume in liters is:

2500 m3 2,500,000 liters

For a more accurate calculation, using FINA’s Olympic Pool Regulations, the pool dimensions can be extended to 50 meters × 25 meters × 3 meters for a total volume of 3750 cubic meters or 3,750,000,000 cubic centimeters (cc).

Gelatin Concentration

The typical concentration for making gelatin desserts is about 1 tablespoon (approximately 7 grams) of powdered gelatin for every 2 cups (500 mL) of liquid. This breaks down to about 14 grams of gelatin per liter of liquid.

Calculation of Gelatin Needed

Now that we have the volume of the pool in liters, we can calculate the total amount of gelatin needed:

Total Gelatin 14 grams/liter × 2,500,000 liters 35,000,000 grams

In kilograms, this translates to:

35,000,000 grams 35,000 kilograms or 35 metric tons

It's important to note that the actual amount of gelatin needed may vary based on the type of gelatin used and the specific properties of the liquid being solidified. Temperature and other factors can also affect the gelling process and might require adjustments to the amount of gelatin.

Practical Considerations and Costs

Using Jell-O as an example, a standard 3-oz box of Jell-O calls for approximately 2 cups (480 cc) of water. This would mean:

7,812,500 Jell-O boxes (2.3 million ounces or 140,000 pounds / 65,204 kg) At 80 cents each, this would cost approximately $6.25 million to purchase individually.

However, purchasing gelatin in bulk can often be more cost-effective. On Amazon, you can find bulk supplies of gelatin that can significantly reduce the overall cost.