Measuring The Earth: Circumference

Term Paper TitleMeasuring The Earth: Circumference
# of Words406
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)1.62

Measuring the earth: Circumference

Purpose: Using Eratosthenes' indirect method, you will learn how to find the circumference of the earth.

Procedure A:
1) Attach two match sticks to a globe on the same longitude line, making sure that they point exactly to the center of the globe.
2) Take globe outside and turn so that one of the match sticks has no shadow. P.S. don't look at sun.
3) Use a protractor to find the shadow angle, and record data.
4) Using a flexible ruler, measure the distance between the sticks. Measure to the nearest .1 centimeter, record data.
5) Using Eratosthenes' method and the data you gathered calculate the circumference of the globe, record data.
6) Using the flexible ruler or string measure the globe's circumference. record data.
7) Compare your calculated and direct circumference measurements and direct circumference measurements and determine your percentage of error, record your data.

Results: The measurement of the shadow angle is 45 degrees. The distance between the sticks measured to be 6 cm. The globe's calculated circumference measured  to be 48 cm. The measured circumference of the globe is 64.37 cm. After comparing calculated...

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