Describe the process by which you would determine the sun's diameter if you knew (1) the distance to the sun and (2) the angular diameter of the sun is 0.5 degrees.
2006-11-13 17:52:42 · 4 answers · asked by victimofthekillers 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Ahh, a triangle. Since you know the two long sides of the triangle and the angle between them, use the Lore of Co-signs to get the third side (Law of Cosines).
2006-11-13 17:55:27 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's simple trigonometry. If the angular diameter is 0.5 degrees, then the angular radius is 0.25 degrees. You then have a right triangle with the angle of 0.25 degrees at the long intersection, the distance from the earth to the sun as the adjacent part, and the sun's radius as the opposite part (see: http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/5374/untitledjl5.png). The tangent of an angle is the opposite side over the adjacent side, so the sun's radius is:
Rsun = Distance to sun * tangent(0.25°)
And the Diameter is just twice the radius.
2006-11-13 18:06:50 · answer #2 · answered by Che jrw 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Triangulation method.
2006-11-13 18:36:36 · answer #3 · answered by dreamofyz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
would you use paralllax method?
2006-11-13 18:21:09 · answer #4 · answered by Coke&TVdinner 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋