The Eratosthenes
Project
Project Goal
Repeat the determination of the size of the
earth as first described by Eratosthenes in about 240 B.C. Accomplish
this by measuring the altitude of the sun at a specified date and
time and comparing with similar measurements to be made by students
in an astronomy class at the University of British
Columbia.
Project Results
What value can we derive for the size of the
earth? What is the circumference? What is the diameter? What is the
uncertainty in this determination? Can we use these results to prove
that the earth is not flat?
Group Activities
Information about Eratosthenes.
Research Eratosthenes and his technique for determining the size
of the earth. Prepare a brief summary statement about Eratosthenes
and this project. Include a few sentences about Eratosthenes and
about the goals for this project. Post this statement to the
Eratosthenes forum on the class web site. Make certain to
identify your group name as the origin of the posting. Also
include the references you consulted for your research.
- Select Your Measurement Technique.
Select the technique that your group will use to measure the
altitude of the sun in degrees at the time of local noon. Prepare
a brief statement that describes the details of the technique your
group will use. Post this statement to the Eratosthenes
forum as a followup posting to your group's initial posting about
the Eratosthenes project.
- Measurement Times. The primary
measurement time will be Wednesday March 22 at the time of local
noon. For this date, make an observational determination of the
time of local noon and determine the altitude of the sun at this
time. How reliable is your measurement? (That is, what is the
uncertainty of your measurement in degrees?) Bring your results to
class and post them on the Eratosthenes Observations forum.
In this posting include the date, the time of the observation, the
observation value (in degrees and fractions), your estimated
uncertainity of your observation (in degrees and fractions), and
the name of your project group.
ggs
Sept 1999
last updated March 2000