Reproducing Eratosthenes' Determination of Earth's Circumference on a Smaller Scale

Takemae, Seiji; Kirwin, P J; McIntosh, Gordon

doi:10.1119/1.4795363

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Webb andBustin 1988, Longhorn andHughes 2015) replicated the experiment in various locations along the same meridian, including the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Takemae et al (2013) conducted a laboratory activity to measure the circumference of a spherical balloon, mimicking the Eratosthenes experiment on a smaller scale. This experiment confirms the validity of Eratosthenes's method, despite criticisms from scholars who argue that Eratosthenes did not perform this specific experiment.…”

Section: Research On Using Eratosthenes's Experiments In Teaching And...mentioning

confidence: 99%

A lesson plan revisiting the Eratosthenes experiment to teach the seasons inductively from a space-based perspective

Aydin,

Wiyarsi,

Fitriyana

et al. 2023

Phys. Educ.

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This paper presents a lesson plan designed to teach seventh-grade students about the seasons and reflections of the students using an inductive approach from a space-based perspective. The plan establishes students’ prior knowledge of the topic and continues with the Eratosthenes experiment as a central experience. Eratosthenes experimented in the 250s BC and calculated the Earth’s circumference during the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. Teachers used this experiment as a practical learning tool to teach the concept of seasons using the inductive method. Eleven seventh-grade students from Turkey, thirty middle-grade students from Indonesia, and their science teachers participated in the study. The students conducted the Eratosthenes experiment in vernal equinox in Turkey and Indonesia and calculated the circumference of the Earth. The measurements were taken in the experiment from a space-based perspective. After conducting the Eratosthenes experiment, the students reflected on their experiences. They discussed the connection of the experiment to the causes of the seasons. Afterwards, teachers conducted direct instruction and problem-solving activities related to the seasons. Reflections from student experiences and experiments were discussed. The study concluded that the lesson plan involving the Eratosthenes experiment provides an in-depth experience for students and enhances their understanding of the factors related to the space-based perspective.

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Section: Research On Using Eratosthenes's Experiments In Teaching And...mentioning

confidence: 99%

A lesson plan revisiting the Eratosthenes experiment to teach the seasons inductively from a space-based perspective

Aydin,

Wiyarsi,

Fitriyana

et al. 2023

Phys. Educ.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Since Eratosthenes' method for measuring the size of the Earth is relatively straight forward, it can be performed as a high school and university experiment without complicated or expensive equipment [2][3][4][5][6][7]. The aim of the experiment described in this paper was to reproduce Eratosthenes' measurement in two countries separated by an ocean (Australia and New Zealand) and see if a value of comparable or better accuracy can be achieved.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modern replication of Eratosthenes’ measurement of the circumference of Earth

Longhorn

Hughes

2015

Phys. Educ.

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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.

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Reproducing Eratosthenes' Determination of Earth's Circumference on a Smaller Scale

Abstract: In this paper, we describe a lab activity for measuring a spherical balloon's circumference. The procedure we discuss is based on the method used by Eratosthenes to measure the Earth's circumference.

Cited by 2 publications

References 2 publications

A lesson plan revisiting the Eratosthenes experiment to teach the seasons inductively from a space-based perspective

A lesson plan revisiting the Eratosthenes experiment to teach the seasons inductively from a space-based perspective

Modern replication of Eratosthenes’ measurement of the circumference of Earth

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