The distance from Alexandria to Syene is about 500 miles.On the summer solstice the sun is directly overhead at noon in Syene.At Alexandria on the summer solstice,the sun is 1/50th of the circumference of the sky (about 7$\degree$)south of the zenith.Based on this information,what is the circumference of Earth?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The angle of 7 degrees corresponds to 1/50th of a circle. Since the distance between Alexandria and Syene is 500 miles, multiplying 500 by 50 gives the Earth's circumference as 25,000 miles.

The Distance from Alexandria to Syene Is About 500 Miles °\degree°

The Distance from Alexandria to Syene Is About 500 Miles $\degree$