Comparing Earth's diameter with Moon's diameter

  • I
  • Thread starter prashant singh
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Diameter
In summary, Aristarchus used geometry to show that during a lunar eclipse, Earth's diameter is 2.5 times that of the moon's diameter and during a solar eclipse it tapers to one moon diameter. By adding these two measurements together, he was able to calculate that Earth's diameter is 3.5 times that of the moon's diameter. However, his initial calculations were later found to be incorrect.
  • #1
prashant singh
56
2
What type of geometry or tool aristarchus used to show that during lunar eclips Earth's diameter is 2.5 times moon's diameter and during solar eclips it tapers one moon diameter, why they add these two to get Earth's diameter as 3.5 times moon's diameter
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
  • #2
prashant singh said:
What type of geometry or tool aristarchus used to show that during lunar eclips Earth's diameter is 2.5 times moon's diameter and during solar eclips it tapers one moon diameter, why they add these two to get Earth's diameter as 3.5 times moon's diameter

The sun’s diameter is about 400 times larger than that of the moon – and the sun is also about 400 times farther from Earth. So the sun and moon appear nearly the same size as seen from Earth.

the size of a celestial body is usually measured by the angle subtented at the observers eye. and the angle /angular diameter depends on the distance at which the body is placed...as an example the above statement during solar ecclipse the disc of Sun and Moon appear to be of the same size.
if you see satellite photographs- the sizes vary as the space telescopes position varies.
if you wish to see exactly the calculations of Aristarchus ...you can visit the site (many a time his geometry gave wrong figures but later got corrected) he could draw triangles in space between celestial bodies and gave arguments/calculation of sizes.

http://www.astro.cornell.edu/academics/courses/astro201/aristarchus.htm
 
  • #3
prashant singh said:
during lunar eclips Earth's diameter is 2.5 times moon's diameter and during solar eclips it tapers one moon diameter,
You are confusing two entirely different events. In a Solar eclipse, the Moon subtends the same (approx) angle as the Sun - and blanks it out. In a Lunar eclipse. Earth is a lot bigger than Moon so the eclipse (Large Earth blocks Sun from small Moon) lasts for quite a long time and is seen from all over the Earth (the parts facing the Moon at the time). In a Solar Eclipse, the Moon blocks the sun and has to be 'exactly' right for a total eclipse (same angles subtended). The Moon's shadow only covers part of the Earth's surface at anyone time. It sweeps over the Earth's surface
Total Lunar eclipses are more common than total solar eclipse because of the relative sizes and consequent different required precision.
 

Related to Comparing Earth's diameter with Moon's diameter

1. What is the diameter of Earth compared to the Moon?

The diameter of Earth is approximately 12,742 kilometers, while the diameter of the Moon is approximately 3,474 kilometers.

2. How does the size of Earth and the Moon compare?

Earth is significantly larger than the Moon, with a diameter more than three times that of the Moon.

3. Why is the Moon much smaller than Earth?

The Moon formed from debris left over after a Mars-sized object collided with Earth during its early formation. This collision stripped away much of Earth's outer layers, resulting in a smaller size for the Moon.

4. Can Earth and the Moon be considered "twin" planets?

No, Earth and the Moon have very different compositions and characteristics. Earth has a dense iron core and a diverse atmosphere, while the Moon is mostly composed of rock and has no atmosphere.

5. How does the size difference between Earth and the Moon impact their gravitational pull?

Due to its larger size and mass, Earth has a stronger gravitational pull than the Moon. This is why objects on Earth feel heavier than objects on the Moon.

Similar threads

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
3
Views
951
Replies
17
Views
2K
  • General Discussion
2
Replies
60
Views
3K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
19
Views
2K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
33
Views
3K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
15
Views
245
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
9
Views
3K
Back
Top