How did the ancient Greek calculate the circumference of the earth without the sophisticated tools & spaceships we have today?
The ancient Greeks didn't have spaceships or advanced technology, but they were able to make reasonably accurate calculations of the Earth's circumference using simple tools and observations. One of the most famous attempts was made by the ancient Greek mathematician and astronomer Eratosthenes in the 3rd century BCE. Eratosthenes noticed that on a particular day, the Sun was directly overhead in the city of Syene (now Aswan, Egypt), meaning that vertical objects cast no shadow. He then measured the angle of the shadow cast by a vertical stick in Alexandria, a city north of Syene, at the same time. Using this information and the distance between Syene and Alexandria, he was able to estimate the Earth's circumference. Here's a basic outline of Eratosthenes' method: 1. **Measurement of the shadow:** Eratosthenes measured the length of a shadow cast by a vertical stick in Alexandria at noon on a specific day. 2. **Distance between cities:** He obtained the distance be...
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