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http://dx.doi.org/10.15523/JKSESE.2017.10.2.214

Understanding the Estimation of Circumference of the Earth by of Eratosthenes based on the History of Science, For Earth Science Education  

Oh, Jun-Young (Hanyang University)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education / v.10, no.2, 2017 , pp. 214-225 More about this Journal
Abstract
The first accurate estimate of the Earth's circumference was made by the Hellenism scientist Eratosthenes (276-195 B.C.) in about 240 B.C. The simplicity and elegance of Eratosthenes' measurement of the circumference of the Earth by mathematics abstraction strategies were an excellent example of ancient Greek ingenuity. Eratosthenes's success was a triumph of logic and the scientific method, the method required that he assume that Sun was so far away that its light reached Earth along parallel lines. That assumption, however, should be supported by another set of measurements made by the ancient Hellenism, Aristarchus, namely, a rough measurement of the relative diameters and distances of the Sun and Moon. Eratosthenes formulated the simple proportional formula, by mathematic abstraction strategies based on perfect sphere and a simple mathematical rule as well as in the geometry in this world. The Earth must be a sphere by a logical and empirical argument of Aristotle, based on the Greek word symmetry including harmony and beauty of form. We discuss the justification of these three bold assumptions for mathematical abstraction of Eratosthenes's experiment for calculating the circumference of the Earth, and justifying all three assumptions from historical perspective for mathematics and science education. Also it is important that the simplicity about the measurement of the earth's circumstance at the history of science.
Keywords
Eratosthenes; estimate of the Earth's circumference; mathematics abstraction; Symmetry; Mathematics & science education; simplicity;
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