Science: Eratosthenes calculated the circumference of the Earth…

Question

Did you know? Eratosthenes calculated the circumference of the Earth around 240 BC — 40,000 km, only 1% off from the modern value. He used the shadow of a stick in Alexandria, knowing that on exactly the same day in Syene the sun stood directly above a well.

Accepted Answer

Eratosthenes calculated the circumference of the Earth around 240 BC — 40,000 km, only 1% off from the modern value. He used the shadow of a stick in Alexandria, knowing that on exactly the same day in Syene the sun stood directly above a well.

Eratosthenes berekende rond 240 v.Chr. de omtrek van de aarde — 40.000 km, slechts 1% naast de moderne waarde. Hij gebruikte de schaduw van een stok in Alexandrië en wist dat in Syene op exact dezelfde dag de zon recht boven een put stond.

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