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Radius of The EARTH!: by Arnav Joglekar

This document summarizes an experiment conducted to estimate the radius of the Earth using simple methods on Zero Shadow Day. Key details include: - The experiment was conducted on May 13, 2021 between 12:30-12:45pm with no shadows in Jalgaon and some shadow in Pune using a 15.24cm stick. - Using Pythagoras theorem and trigonometry, the author calculated the radius as 7001km with a 10% error rate compared to the actual radius of 6371km. - Some questions about the experiment are addressed, noting the value is an approximation as Earth is not a perfect sphere and simple tools were used.

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71 views10 pages

Radius of The EARTH!: by Arnav Joglekar

This document summarizes an experiment conducted to estimate the radius of the Earth using simple methods on Zero Shadow Day. Key details include: - The experiment was conducted on May 13, 2021 between 12:30-12:45pm with no shadows in Jalgaon and some shadow in Pune using a 15.24cm stick. - Using Pythagoras theorem and trigonometry, the author calculated the radius as 7001km with a 10% error rate compared to the actual radius of 6371km. - Some questions about the experiment are addressed, noting the value is an approximation as Earth is not a perfect sphere and simple tools were used.

Uploaded by

Adj degui
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Radius of

the EARTH!
By Arnav Joglekar
Introduction
• This Experiment was conducted on Zero Shadow Day that is on 13 May 2021

• Experiment was conducted from 12:30 to 12:45 pm

• No use of heavy and precise instruments

Approximations-
• A slight bit of approximation* was made
• Sun rays are parallel

• Earth is a perfect sphere

• Distance between Jalgaon and Pune


The basic IDEA!
• There is no shadow at
Jalgaon and some shadow
at pune

• Height of stick at pune


and Jalgaon is 15.24 cm
height of shadow is 0.5
cm

• NOT TO SCALE :)
Calculation
By Pythagoras Theorem

2 2 2 𝑂𝑝𝑝 0.5
𝐴 +𝐵 =𝐶
-By using Sin Inverse
𝑜
sin 𝜃= = ≈ 1.87
Function

𝐻𝑦𝑝𝑜 𝐶
Calculation

The vertical distance is approx. 229.6 km and


from 0 degree ( no shadow ) we are getting 1.87
degree when we travel horizontally ( blackish-
blue line)

So,
Calculation
Circumference ()
43,988.5 =

FUN FACT!
r = 7001 km
NASA did this calculation in 2018 by
using billion digits of (pi)
( is used first 31 digits )
We have calculated the radius of Earth to be 7001 km and the
Real radius is 6371 km!
An error of just 10% (630 km) is too good ,by just sitting at home.
And we have calculated the radius by just scale, ruler and mathematics
instead of send satellites in space... [ NASA did that! ;) ]
We calculated the radius of EARTH by easy idea ,
moderate amount of maths and high logic!
The FAQs
• Q) Why to perform this experiment on ZERO SHADOW DAY?
• A That’s a gooood question! Actually we can perform this experiment on any day! But the problem is that it is
difficult to locate the right time of Solar Noon(in seconds), here the length of the stick should be same, also, and
we have to subtract the angles which can lead to a small error and due to calculation the radius can change a lot
( eg- error of 0.01 change of 2000 km! ) . Where as on zero shadow day the time where there is no shadow that
can be held as constant

• Q) Was this IDEA mine..?


• A Hmmm…… Nope! It wasn’t but a part of it was mine. This experiment was done by a Egyptian Philosopher in
300BC!

• Q) So why an Error…?
Here is why…!!
As we are using normal calculator and normal scale we can get an error of 300 km.

Also earth is not a perfect sphere it is ellipsoid ( a 3D ellipse )

It has extended a bit due to its centrifugal force. (spinning of earth)


As a result we have got the value wrong.

After many years the length of the radius will change as a result
circumference will also change...

ANY MORE QUESTIONS ?


THANK YOU

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