Lab+3+-+Polar+Circumference

== **3. C i rcumfere nce Lab Write Up **     ==


 Describe a method for determining the polar circumference of the earth using : a) 1 6 meter long tape measure, b) a GPS unit c) some outdoor area on campus d) some math, unit conversions etc.      


 * In order to determine the polar circumference of the Earth, first you have to find an open area, and located (using a GPS) a line that runs north to south along a longitude. Lay out the tape measure so that it is pointing north to south. Using the GPS find the coordinates from one end of the tape measurer to the other end 6 meters away from the first (Concept shown in Figure 1). The latitude is the only part of the coordinates that should change since you need to be on a constant longitude running from the north pole to the south pole. By using the distance between the points you took coordinates of (6 meters) and knowing those coordinates you can know find the polar circumference of the Earth by using the formula (difference between the two latitude measurements in degrees)/(6 meters) = (360 degrees)/(x)

x is the polar circumference of the Earth in meters. This is the value you have to find. Our results:

( 36 degrees 01' 12.74" - 36 degrees 01' 12.34" ) / (6 meters) = (360 degrees) / (x) Calculate and x = 54,000,000 meters

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