Two students in different parts of New York State measure the altitude of Polaris is above the horizon. The student near New York City finds the angle to be 41 degrees. The student near Massena finds the angle to be 45 degrees. Which state is best supported by this information.
(1) The orbit of the earth is elliptical
(2) The surface of the earth is curved
I think is one. If I'm wrong please tell me why because I was having trouble in this question.
4 answers
Please help but not only teachers anyone!?!?
It is clearly #2.
Since both observations were made at the same time, the orbit traveled by the planet can have nothing to do with it. Only separate observations at different times could indicate how the earth has moved.
If the earth were flat, the star is so distant that all observations from earth would have the same angle of elevation (within a few micro-seconds of each other). The only way two such different measurements could happen is if the direction of the vertical is quite different at different latitudes. Hence, the surface is curved.
Since both observations were made at the same time, the orbit traveled by the planet can have nothing to do with it. Only separate observations at different times could indicate how the earth has moved.
If the earth were flat, the star is so distant that all observations from earth would have the same angle of elevation (within a few micro-seconds of each other). The only way two such different measurements could happen is if the direction of the vertical is quite different at different latitudes. Hence, the surface is curved.
Thank You Steve!!!! :)
Laruen:
Google "celestial navigation".
Google "celestial navigation".
1 answer