Question 835331: 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 degrees 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, the circumference of the earth is how many kilometers?
Answer by stanbon(75887)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! 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 degrees 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, the circumference of the earth is how many kilometers?
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360/7.2 = 50
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Circumference = 50*787 = 39,350 km
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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