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M. Longhorn e S. Hughes, Phys. Educ. 50, 175 (2015)
M. Longhorn e S. Hughes, Phys. Educ. 50, 175 (2015)
M. Longhorn e S. Hughes, Phys. Educ. 50, 175 (2015)
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Modern replication of
Eratosthenes’ measurement of
the circumference of Earth
Morgana Longhorn and Stephen Hughes
Department of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering and the Institute for Future
Environments, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
E-mail: sw.hughes@qut.edu.au
Abstract
Twenty-two hundred years ago, the Greek scientist Eratosthenes measured
the circumference of the Earth. This paper describes an experiment to
replicate Eratosthenes’ experiment with observers located in Australia and
New Zealand. The most accurate circumference produced in the experiment
described in this paper is 38 874 km, measured at Rosebud, Victoria, Australia,
and Jimboomba, Queensland, Australia with an error of 2.9%. This exceeds
the accuracy of Eratosthenes, although not of the modern recreation of his
experiment between Syene and Alexandria. The experiment described in this
paper might form a useful model for cooperation between schools in different
countries.
Table 2. Results for each city pair. The first column shows the city pair (J = Jimboomba, R = Rosebud,
C = Christchurch), the second column shows the difference in the latitude of the city pair, the third column the
difference between the angles of the shadows cast at midday at the city pair, the fourth column the calculated
circumference of the Earth, and the fifth column the percentage discrepancy.
Difference Difference between Calculated
in latitude North–south angle of midday circumference
City pair (degrees) distance (km) Sun (degrees) (km) % discrepancy
J–R 10.5227 1170 10.79 39 038 2.48
J–C 15.702758 1746 15.49 40 572 −1.35
R–C 5.180058 575 4.70 44 089 −10.14
1170 km and Rosebud to Christchurch 575 km. to +1.68%. This suggests that the Christchurch
The angle (θ) of the shadow cast by the midday shadow length is slightly out.
Sun at each city was calculated from figure 1. An interesting question in view of the tech-
Jimboomba experienced some overcast niques used in this paper is how Eratosthenes
weather, delaying the acquisition of data by performed his calculations. He may have used
4 min, but time was kept well on time in the other an abacus or perhaps some ancient technique lost
two locations. to the world when the library of Alexandria was
burned to the ground.
3. Results
5. Conclusion
The results are shown in tables 1 and 2. The cir-
In conclusion, the 2200 years of scientific prog-
cumference of the Earth was calculated using the
ress and technological advancement has given
average of nine shadow angles, with the propa-
ordinary students the ability to measure the Earth
gated error. The error in the shadow angle was
using a telephone, tape, and Google. Eratosthenes’
estimated by adding the measurement error to
accomplishment is still an amazing feat, as he
the height, and subtracting the measurement error
obtained an accurate measure of the Earth’s size
from the shadow length, and inserting the values
using very basic ‘equipment’, which is a testa-
in the inverse tan expression.
ment to the ingenuity of the ancient philosophers
and mathematicians. The exercise described in
4. Discussion this paper would be suitable as a collaborative
project between schools in different countries.
The results show that accurate Earth circumfer-
ences (<2.5%) can be obtained across oceans.
When the Christchurch shadow length is increased Acknowledgments
from 148.1 to 150.6 cm, the discrepancy in the Thanks to Stephanie Vosper in Rosebud,
Rosebud–Christchurch circumference reduced Melbourne, and Ian Longhorn in Christchurch,
from −10.14 to 0.03%, whilst the Jimboomba– NZ, for their co-operation and enthusiasm for
Christchurch discrepancy changed from −1.35 participating in scientific activity.