(Assume your thumb is 1.7 cm and held at a distance of 73 cm
2007-09-01 08:27:38 · 3 answers · asked by teetee12 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Well if you use 73cm and 1.7cm the answer is:
Radius = 73cm, so Diameter = 146cm
146cm x 3.1415926 (Pi or fairly close) = 458.67251cm
Thus the circumference of 458.67251cm divided by the given 1.7cm thumb = 1/269.80735th of the circumference or 1.3342853 degrees.
2007-09-01 09:00:53 · answer #1 · answered by melkor43 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a whole system of using your hand, held at arm's length, for estimating angular distances in the sky.
Your whole hand outstretched from thumb tip to tip of little finger = 25 degrees, Clenched fist, about 20 degrees, little finger 1Degree etc. etc.
Adolph
2007-09-02 06:11:44 · answer #2 · answered by Adolph K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ATAN(1.7/73) is about 1.33 degrees.
2007-09-01 15:46:49 · answer #3 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋