Eratosthenes Research Paper

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Born in c.276 BC, Eratosthenes was a Greek scientific writer, astronomer, and poet. He made the first measurement, which showed Earth’s size. Best known as the first person who calculated the circumference of the Earth, Eratosthenes of Cyrene, living in the time around 276 BC, developed a measuring system using a standard unit of measure called the stadia. This form of standard measurement during the time assisted Eratosthenes with calculating very accurately. He studied the way in which the Sun’s rays fell vertically at noon on the summer solstice while in Alexandria Egypt. Eratosthenes correctly guessed that the distance from the Earth to the Sun was very great and that the Sun’s rays are practically parallel when they reach the Earth.

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