Eratosthenes experiment eTwinning

Who was Eratosthenes?

• A Greek philosopher

• A Greek mathematician and astronomer

• A Roman scientist

• A Roman poet

What was the main goal of Eratosthenes’ experiment?

• To measure the circumference of the Earth

• To calculate the distance between the Earth and the Sun

• To discover the shape of the Earth

• To determine the size of the Moon

Which two cities did Eratosthenes use for his experiment?

• Athens and Rome

• Alexandria and Syene

• Athens and Alexandria

• Rome and Syene

What observation did Eratosthenes make in Syene during the summer solstice?

• The Sun was directly overhead, causing no shadow at noon

• The Sun was in the east

• The Sun was at an angle, casting long shadows

• The Sun was in the west

Οn which date the experiment of Eratosthenes can be carried out?

• 20th, March

• 20th, May

• 20th, April

The vernal equinox around March 20 each year marks the beginning of spring. On this day the Sun is ........................... above the Earth's equator and the length of the day is approximately equal to the length of the night.

What is the name of the method Eratosthenes used to measure the Earth's circumference?

• Shadow measurement

• Trigonometry

• Astronomy

• Geometry

Where did Eratosthenes conduct his experiment?

• Athens

• Alexandria

• Rome

• Sparta

How accurate was Eratosthenes' estimate of the Earth's circumference?

• He was very inaccurate, over 50% off

• His estimate was about 20% off

• He didn’t make an estimate

• He was extremely accurate, only 1% off

How did Eratosthenes' experiment influence the understanding of the Earth in ancient times?

• It disproved the idea that the Earth was spherical

• It had no influence on scientific thinking

• It suggested that the Earth was flat

• It helped confirm that the Earth was round and provided an estimate of its size