SOLUTION: This problem outlines how Eratosthenes of Cyrene approximated the diameter of the earth in approximately 200BC. By observing the shadow of the sun at noon he recognized that his ho

Question 1070567: This problem outlines how Eratosthenes of Cyrene approximated the diameter of the earth in approximately 200BC. By observing the shadow of the sun at noon he recognized that his home town of Alexandria was approximately 7.2∘north of the town of Syene. He paid somebody to walk and measure the distance between Syene and Alexandria. Suppose it is 787 km. Based on these figures, what is the circumference of the earth in kilometers.
Answer by Boreal(15235) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
7.2 degrees north is 7.2/360 or 1/50th of the Earth's circumference.
787*50 would be the Earth's circumference, 39,350 km, or about 2% different from the accepted value.
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