Students from all continents join together to reproduce one of the science's 10 most beautiful experiments of all time: Eratosthenes' measurement of the Earth's circumference.

• Subjects: Astronomy, Geography, Physics
• Languages: EN
• Pupil's age: 3 - 20
• Tools to be used: Audio conference, Chat, e-mail, Forum, MP3, Other software (Powerpoint, video, pictures and drawings), Project Diary, Twinspace, Video conference, Virtual learning environment (communities, virtual classes, ...), Web publishing
• Aims: This project is a continuation of the previous Eratosthenes projects "measuring the circumference of the Earth" . It is based... read moreThis project is a continuation of the previous Eratosthenes projects "measuring the circumference of the Earth" . It is based on the experience of Eratosthenes, curator of the library of Alexandria, that 2200 years ago, calculated in a simple way, the circumference of the Earth by comparing two shadows. hide
• Work process: The pupils learn how to observe the shadows and the motion of the Sun in the sky and they build... read moreThe pupils learn how to observe the shadows and the motion of the Sun in the sky and they build their own measuring instruments. They agree on a date with another school, to achieve simultaneously the experiment. By measuring the shadow of a vertical stick at noon local solar time and by exchanging their results , they are able to compute the Earth's size.They exchange also photographs and videos of their place of measurement and their environment in general. hide
• Expected results: Measurements and observations will be written on the website and informations and results will be exchanged on the Twinspace and... read moreMeasurements and observations will be written on the website and informations and results will be exchanged on the Twinspace and viconferences. hide

• Go to the TWINSPACE