Latitude and Earth's Radius The experiment performed by Eratosthenes to measure the circumference of the Earth was low-tech, but rather involved. As a first step, we will use the position of the sun at Solar Noon to estimate the latitude of an observer. Problem 1.01. At noon on the equinox, the sun shines directly overhead at the equator. Draw a diagram to show how the length of a shadow on the equinox is related to the latitude of an observer. Assume the sun's rays are parallel to the equatorial rays.
Latitude and Earth's Radius The experiment performed by Eratosthenes to measure the circumference of the Earth was low-tech, but rather involved. As a first step, we will use the position of the sun at Solar Noon to estimate the latitude of an observer. Problem 1.01. At noon on the equinox, the sun shines directly overhead at the equator. Draw a diagram to show how the length of a shadow on the equinox is related to the latitude of an observer. Assume the sun's rays are parallel to the equatorial rays.
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Astronomy Measurements
In this exercise we will derive the expression we need to make measurements of the size
of Earth, the Sun, parallax measurements, and the astronomical unit.
Astro 001 Fall 2022
Latitude and Earth's Radius
The experiment performed by Eratosthenes to measure the circumference of the Earth was
low-tech, but rather involved. As a first step, we will use the position of the sun at Solar
Noon to estimate the latitude of an observer.
Problem 1.01. At noon on the equinox, the sun shines directly overhead at the equator.
Draw a diagram to show how the length of a shadow on the equinox is related to the
latitude of an observer. Assume the sun's rays are parallel to the equatorial rays.
Problem 1.02. Now, use your diagram to find an expression for the circumference of the
Earth Co in terms of the latitude of an observer 0, the full 360° of a circle, and the distance
from the observer at 0 to the equator S.
Problem 1.03. Now, use the Solar Calculator found at https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/
to find today's solar noon and solar declination.
1. Solar Noon time:
2. Solar Declination:
1. Angle today shadow=
2. Shadow Length Lshadow =
Problem 1.04. Finally, suppose you were to place a 1 m stick perpendicular to the ground
at solar noon today, find the angle the shadow makes with the tip of the meter stick and the
length of the meter stick.
1
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