What accurately calculated the circumference of the earth?

Eratosthenes
Eratosthenes erected a pole in Alexandria, and on the summer solstice he observed that it cast a shadow, proving that the Sun was not directly overhead but slightly south. Recognizing the curvature of the Earth and knowing the distance between the two cities enabled Eratosthenes to calculate the planet’s circumference.

What is the exact shape of the Earth?

The Earth is an irregularly shaped ellipsoid. While the Earth appears to be round when viewed from the vantage point of space, it is actually closer to an ellipsoid.

How do I figure circumference?

To find the circumference of a circle, multiply the circle’s diameter by pi (3.14).

How did Earth gets its name?

The name “Earth” is derived from both English and German words, ‘eor(th)e/ertha’ and ‘erde’, respectively, which mean ground. One interesting fact about its name: Earth is the only planet that wasn’t named after a Greek or Roman god or goddess.

How do we measure the size of a planet?

The most common is to measure the apparent angular diameter of the planet – how big it looks against the sky – very precisely using a telescope. Combining this with a measure of its distance (deduced from its orbit around the Sun) reveals the planet’s actual size. Another method involves studying the motion of moons as they eclipse the planet.

How do you calculate the true circumference of the Earth?

Calculate the circumference of the Earth using this equation: Circumference = 360 x distance between your city and the equator / angle of shadow that you measured What value do you get? How close is your answer to the true circumference of Earth (see “Observations and results” section)?

Can you measure the circumference of the Earth with a meterstick?

It might seem like it would be impossible for you to measure the circumference of our planet using only a meterstick. The Greek mathematician Eratosthenes, however, was able to estimate Earth’s circumference more than 2,000 years ago, without the aid of any modern technology.

How did Galileo calculate the circumference of Earth?

Using geometry, he calculated the circumference of Earth based on a few things that he knew (and one he didn’t): He knew there are 360 degrees in a circle. He could measure the angle of the shadow cast by a tall object in Alexandria.