[Yr7-10it] How big is your planet?

[Bill Kerr]

great project, thanks roland

I was thinking of some preliminary activities to introduce greek maths /
science to start with including some  nocturnal activities

eg. holding a ruler at arms length to measure the diameter of the moon, then
using similar triangles to estimate the ratio b/w the moons diameter and
distance of the moon from the earth (or using a coin if you have a partner
to help)

which also happens to be the same as the ratio b/w the suns diameter and the
distance of the sun from the earth (since the sun is exactly covered by the
moon during an eclipse)

more info here:
http://galileoandeinstein.physics.virginia.edu/lectures/gkastr1.html


-- 
Bill Kerr
http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/


On Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 12:28 PM, Roland Gesthuizen <rgesthuizen at gmail.com>
wrote:

> [image: Eratosthenes science week image]
>
> RMIT University is coordinating a national schools project inviting
> teachers and students from Years 10, 11 and 12 to re-enact Eratosthenes'
> famous experiment in measuring the angle of the Sun at local noon to
> determine the radius of the Earth from 16 to 24 August 2008.
>
> It is a fun online activity that your students might enjoy doing at
> outdoors at lunchtime.
>
> We had some fun doing this last year whilst we collected numbers and a
> splash of vitamin D. Maths might be tricky for younger students but fun to
> try.
>
> Full details, study guide and student resources at:
>      http://www.rmit.edu.au/scienceweek/eratosthenes
>
>
> Regards Roland
>
> --
> Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College
> http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au
>
> "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
> change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret
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