Available online
Description
The programme concentrates on a number of methods of measuring distances in the Earth-Moon system. It starts by showing a version of Eratothenes' experiment for measuring the Earth's radius. With t...he data from this experiment combined with data from a simultaneous experiment at a site due north of it; Steve Swithenby explains the method for calculating the Earth's radius, though the final calculation is left to the student to perform. The argument develops to measuring the radius of the Moon. Animation is used to show that light from the sun cannot strictly be regarded as parallel and that this introduces an error into a technique previously introduced to students. With the help of a model, indication is given of how this error can be accounted for. Keith Hodgkinson then gives some tips on performing the home experiment to measure the distance to the Moon and then concludes the programme by giving a brief account of the modern technique of laser ranging.
The programme concentrates on a number of methods of measuring distances in the Earth-Moon system. It starts by showing a version of Eratothenes' experiment for measuring the Earth's radius. With t...he data from this experiment combined with data from a simultaneous experiment at a site due north of it; Steve Swithenby explains the method for calculating the Earth's radius, though the final calculation is left to the student to perform. The argument develops to measuring the radius of the Moon. Animation is used to show that light from the sun cannot strictly be regarded as parallel and that this introduces an error into a technique previously introduced to students. With the help of a model, indication is given of how this error can be accounted for. Keith Hodgkinson then gives some tips on performing the home experiment to measure the distance to the Moon and then concludes the programme by giving a brief account of the modern technique of laser ranging.
| Module code and title: | S102, Science: a foundation course |
|---|---|
| Item code: | S102; 02 |
| First transmission date: | 14-02-1988 |
| Published: | 1988 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:25:00 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Tony Jolly |
| Contributors: | Keith Hodgkinson; Steve Swithenby |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Eratosthenes experiment; Laser ranging |
| Subject terms: | Earth; Lunar bases; Moon |
| Master spool number: | HOU5645 |
| Production number: | FOUS452A |
| Videofinder number: | 1153 |
| Available to public: | no |
