In order to use Eratosthenes' method for determining the circumference of a large sphere, one must assume that the sun's rays are parallel when they reach the Earth. This assumption allows for the creation of similar triangles formed by the sun, the Earth, and the two locations where the shadows are measured. By measuring the angle of the shadows at each location, the distance between the two locations, and the Earth's radius, one can calculate the circumference of the Earth using trigonometry and geometry.
n the 200s BC, Eratosthenes figured out a very clever method for measuring the size of the Earth. He heard about a well in Syene (in modern Egypt) where the sunshine reached the bottom only at noon in the summer solstice. So he knew exactly when the sun was directly overhead. Further north in Alexandria he put a stick straight up in the ground and measured the angle of its shadow at that precise moment as 7.2°. It meant that the distance from Syene to Alexandria was 7.2/360 of the Earth's circumference. Since he knew this distance, he could compute the circumference as 39250km, a diameter of about 12500km.n the 200s BC, Eratosthenes figured out a very clever method for measuring the size of the Earth. He heard about a well in Syene (in modern Egypt) where the sunshine reached the bottom only at noon in the summer solstice. So he knew exactly when the sun was directly overhead. Further north in Alexandria he put a stick straight up in the ground and measured the angle of its shadow at that precise moment as 7.2°. It meant that the distance from Syene to Alexandria was 7.2/360 of the Earth's circumference. Since he knew this distance, he could compute the circumference as 39250km, a diameter of about 12500km.
The transit method is currently the most successful technique for finding Earth-like planets. This method detects the tiny dip in a star's brightness as a planet passes in front of it, allowing astronomers to measure the planet's size and distance from its star, which are crucial factors in determining its habitability.
The compass helped exploration by providing a reliable method for determining direction, allowing sailors to navigate accurately even when out of sight of land. The astrolabe assisted in determining a ship's latitude based on the angle of the sun or stars, aiding in more precise navigation and mapping of uncharted territories. Together, these instruments were crucial in facilitating long-distance sea voyages and expanding global exploration.
The best method for determining a galaxy's redshift is by analyzing its spectrum. This involves measuring the shift in the wavelengths of light emitted by the galaxy, which can provide valuable information about its distance and velocity.
The compass aided exploration by providing a consistent and reliable method for determining direction, which allowed travelers to navigate accurately even in unfamiliar territories or when visibility was poor. This helped sailors, explorers, and travelers to map out new routes, discover new lands, and expand their knowledge of the world.
One assumption made about the sun's rays when using Eratosthenes' method is that they are parallel. This allows for consistent angles of incidence at different locations on the Earth's surface, enabling accurate measurements of shadow lengths.
Eratosthenes is known for several significant contributions, and three notable things named after him include the "Eratosthenes sieve," an ancient algorithm for finding prime numbers, the "Eratosthenes measure," which refers to his method of calculating the Earth's circumference, and the "Eratosthenes crater," a large impact crater on the Moon named in his honor. His work laid foundational principles in mathematics, geography, and astronomy.
No, that calculation was performed by Eratosthenes the Greek, as he worked in the Pharaoh's library at Alexandria, Egypt, using figures supplied by the Pharaoh's geometers. This would have been just a few centuries after the founding of the City of Rome, before it had grown into an empire. Eratosthenes worked out the method for determining earth's circumference after reading ancient Egyptian texts concerning the shadow cast in a well in Cyene, an Egyptian city on the Tropic of Cancer, at noon on the summer solstice.
About 276 BC Eratosthenes was a Greek mathematician who is credited with a simple method of making a list of as many primes as you wish. His method is known as the Sieve of Eratosthenes.
Eratosthenes' method of finding prime and composite number is called 'The Sieve of Eratosthene'.
The Greek mathematician and astronomer Eratosthenes is credited with calculating the Earth's circumference around 240 B.C. using the angle of the sun's rays at two different locations and the distance between those locations. This method provided a reasonably accurate estimate of the Earth's size.
He was an ancient Greek mathematician of the 2nd/3rd century BC, as well as a poet, geographer, musical composer, scholar, and astronomer. He was the first Greek to estimate the circumference and tilt of the earth. He created a map of the earth based on the knowledge available at the time. He was highly respected, and his calculations of the earth's circumference were used for hundreds of years. Today, his method for finding prime numbers from 1-100 is known as the 'Sieve of Eratosthenes' and is taught in math textbooks.
The circumference of the Earth can be determined using the method of measuring the angle of the sun's shadow at two different locations at the same time. By knowing the distance between the two locations and the angle of the shadow, one can use basic trigonometry to calculate the Earth's circumference. This method was famously used by Eratosthenes in ancient Greece, who estimated the Earth's circumference with remarkable accuracy.
Eratosthenes was a Greek mathematician, geographer, poet, and astronomer who lived in the third century BCE. He is best known for accurately calculating the circumference of the Earth using a method involving shadows and geometry. Eratosthenes also made significant contributions to astronomy, geography, and mathematics during his lifetime.
Eratosthenes estimated the circumference of the Earth to be about 39,375 kilometers (approximately 24,662 miles). He achieved this by measuring the angle of the shadow cast by a stick in Alexandria during the summer solstice and comparing it to the angle of a stick in Syene, where the sun was directly overhead. Using the distance between the two cities, he applied basic geometry to calculate the Earth's circumference. His method was remarkably accurate for the time.
To set up an experiment using Eratosthenes' method to find the Earth's circumference, you need to select two distant locations and measure the distance between them. Then, measure the angle of the shadow cast by a vertical stick at each location during the same time of day. Finally, use the difference in the angles and the distance between the locations to calculate the Earth's circumference using trigonometry.
Certainly! Eratosthenes estimated the Earth's circumference by comparing the angles of the sun's shadow at two different locations and using the distance between them. By measuring the shadows cast by objects, he calculated the angle of the sun's rays at each location, leading to an accurate estimate of the Earth's size, which was remarkably close to the current value.