Under the guidance of Science Communicator Sarika Gharu, 10 children were lucky enough to learn the circumference of the earth using a method invented 2300 years back by a Greek astronomer Eratosthenes. The children determined the circumference to be 40,000 Kilometer. In order to perform this experiment children used trigonometry and geometry.
The experiment was conducted in front of the Vallabh Bhavan by measuring the shadow of the highest flag pole of the State form 11.30 am to 1.00 pm. First they measure the shadow at the interval of every 5 minutes and then measured the shortest formed shadow. Then they measured the angle of the formed shadow with the help of the Moon.
Gharu said that today is a no shadow day at Nasik as the sun rays are falling from right on top. There won’t be any shadow of high structures formed at midday. Today when the shadow of the flag pole was obtained which is at an air distance of 500 kilometres from Nasik, the angle was found to be 4.5 degree. Standing at one place they have obtained the approximate circumference where as the actual is 40,075.
After the experiment was completed Gharu along with the children submitted the report to the principal secretary of Department of General Administration M Varshney. He said that it is a unique experiment of astronomy.
Gharu further said that this is the first time this experiment has been conducted using a flag pole in India. This experiment has been completed being at one place.