How to estimate the size of the sun.

Purchase: http://hilaroad.com/video This video shows how to estimate the diameter of the sun including step by step instructions for constructing the equipment needed and an overview of the geometry of similar triangles.
The video also includes a brief introduction to the techniques used by the ancient Greeks to determine the size of the moon, distance to the moon and the distance to the sun. For junior and intermediate schools this video supports the mathematics and astronomy components of the curriculum.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• astronomy
• Aristarchus
• similar
• triangles
• sun
• moon
• science
• fair
• ancient
• Greeks
• isosceles
• pinhole
• triangulation
• project

[c0mpumast3r]

With all due respect but ahmm I just have one question, and that is about side AC, is that correct that side AC is equal to 1 meter?Its because as you can see here, AC is the diagonal part of the smaller triangle and the one meter I think is from the point A to middle point of side BC, right?so, I was just thinking of some other values for side AC which is not 1 meter...right?

[ScienceOnline]

Yes, you are correct and it is important to note that AC is not exactly 1 meter, it is ~ 1.00001 m. I was attempting to keep the demonstration as simple as possible so I avoided using the distance A to the midpoint of BC.

As the equipment is very basic and we are estimating the distance to the sun, rounding AC to 1 meter is appropriate.

[AmauryRules]

Where were you internet when I was a kid?. Great work, Sir!.

[S0chan]

It's incredible how much you can achieve with the most basic math.

Thank you for this video.

[LovelyYTRocks]

How did earlier people find the distance between the Earth and the Sun?

[geekionizado]

Don't I need to transform 150.000.000km to mm?

[matthew2000tx]

Great, thanks for sharing!

[TimpBizkit]

I thought the diameter of the sun was 1,325,000km

[TheseEyesGod]

Excellent!  Clear & well done. You don't talk over people's heads, nor do you talk down to us. You obviously ♥enjoy♥ what you're doing.

If everyone would do that, the world would be a blissful place. ♥♥♥ :>D

Thank you!

[doganaktas]

Being in Northern(or southern) hemisphere has virtually no effect while measuring the distance.

[eddyblak]

This guy sounds like Michael Moore.

[Dmme199]

You're awesome dude! 5/5!!

[Fryitonapanandstuff]

☄Simple and easy to understand. Thankyou.

[nathanbehar101]

Did you know that if you wanted to leave the suns gravity, you would have to be going at a speed of about 1.4 million miles an hour?