Measuring the Size of the Earth
K
éyah Math Project development team: Nancy Zumoff, Christopher Schaufele, Steven Semken, Tracy Perkins, Lynn Onken, Philippe Laval, David Gonzales, and Andrew Becenti (deceased).
K
éyah Math Project directed by
Steven Semken , Arizona State University; and Christopher Schaufele and Nancy Zumoff, Professors of Mathematics, Emeritus.
Archived at
Arizona State University School of Earth and Space Exploration.
This activity was selected for the On the Cutting Edge Reviewed Teaching Collection
This activity has received positive reviews in a peer review process involving five review categories. The five categories included in the process are
- Scientific Accuracy
- Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
- Pedagogic Effectiveness
- Robustness (usability and dependability of all components)
- Completeness of the ActivitySheet web page
For more information about the peer review process itself, please see https://serc.carleton.edu/teachearth/activity_review.html.
Initial Publication Date: June 30, 2008 | Reviewed: July 11, 2017
- First Publication: June 30, 2008
- Reviewed: July 11, 2017 -- Reviewed by the On the Cutting Edge Activity Review Process
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Cite thisZumoff, N., Schaufele, C., Semken, S., Perkins, T., Onken, L., Laval, P., Gonzales, D., Becenti, A., & Cho, Y. (2008, June 30).
Measuring the Size of the Earth. Keyah Math.
https://serc.carleton.edu/keyah/activities/size_earth.html
Topics
Mathematics Grade Level
College Introductory, College Lower (13-14)
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Learning Goals
Objectives
Learn how Eratosthenes used geometry to estimate the circumference of the Earth.
Use the circumference to compute the radius and volume of the Earth.
Mathematical Skills
Use the geometry of a circle (radius and circumference) and a sphere (volume).
Calculate interior angles.Context for Use
This activity consists of a set of quantitative problem-solving exercises that can be used as an in-class activity or an assignment in any introductory geology, geography, or Earth and space science course.
Description and Teaching Materials
Teaching Notes and Tips
An Instructor's Guide to all K
éyah Math activities is available online from the
Instructor Resources page on the K
éyah Math website.
Assessment
Students record their work and answers in a word-processor document or a notebook, which can be submitted to the instructor for assessment. Solutions to these problems are available online from the
Instructor Resources page on the K
éyah Math website.
References and Resources
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