View Full Version : How we calculate the distance to the moon
alshaymah
May 31, 2007, 10:08 PM
How we calculate the distance to the moon :confused: . I know the experiment but I want the numbers in kg
By this low=
Distance to the moon/diameter of the moon =distance to the marble/diameter of the marble
Distance to the moon= diameter to the moon* distance to the marble/diameter of the marble
Thank you.
Capuchin
May 31, 2007, 11:11 PM
I'm not sure what your equations are measuring..
We can measure the distance to the moon accurately because we know how quickly it orbits us. We can balance the centripetal force with the gravitational force.
Recently we have been able to bounce lasers from mirrors left on the moon by astronauts to get a more accurate distance.
alshaymah
Jun 1, 2007, 12:00 AM
I'm not sure what your equations are measuring..
We can measure the distance to the moon accurately because we know how quickly it orbits us. We can balance the centripetal force with the gravitational force.
Recently we have been able to bounce lasers from mirrors left on the moon by astronauts to get a more accurate distance.
Hi thank you very much for your answer at lest you trying to help
Am using this expeirment on this site : Arbor Scientific - Coolstuff Newsletter - Volume 10 (http://www.arborsci.com/CoolStuff/cool10.htm)
I want the sizes by using a ruler.
Regards
Capuchin
Jun 1, 2007, 12:29 AM
I can't find the experiment on that site to find the distance of the moon. :o
Are you using a marble to cover the moon exactly? I seem to see what you're getting at now.
Your equation seems right. It should give you the distance to the moon as long as you know the diameter of the moon. What problem are you having?
None of the numbers are in kg...
alshaymah
Jun 1, 2007, 04:43 AM
I can't find the experiment on that site to find the distance of the moon. :o
Are you using a marble to cover the moon exactly? I seem to see what you're getting at now.
Your equation seems right. It should give you the distance to the moon as long as you know the diameter of the moon. What problem are you having?
None of the numbers are in kg...
Now I recognize that I posted two questions.
one that I want a lab report about any physic subject.
second: I want to know the answer of the calculation of how to measure the
distance to the moon by using a ruler and marble. As you read the procedure in
the web site.
now I want to know the answer by using this low:
Distance to the moon/diameter of the moon =distance to the marble/diameter of the marble
Distance to the moon= diameter to the moon* distance to the marble/diameter of the marble
I hope ypu understand me now. :(
<<<<feel so bad
Capuchin
Jun 1, 2007, 05:01 AM
Okay, you can hold the marble up so that it covers the moon exactly. Then you measure the distance from your eye to the marble. You also measure the diameter of the marble.
However, you need to know the diameter of the moon, I don't know if you're allowed to take that from scientific literature or not.
Let me know. The only way to measure the diameter to the moon yourself is by knowing the distance to the moon which as mentionned before has been measured in a variety of ways, which kind of defeats the point. There are other ways to measure the diameter but I don't think your teacher wants you to go that far.
alshaymah
Jun 1, 2007, 06:30 AM
Okay, you can hold the marble up so that it covers the moon exactly. Then you measure the distance from your eye to the marble. You also measure the diameter of the marble.
However, you need to know the diameter of the moon, I don't know if you're allowed to take that from scientific literature or not.?
Let me know. The only way to measure the diameter to the moon yourself is by knowing the distance to the moon which as mentionned before has been measured in a variety of ways, which kind of defeats the point. There are other ways to measure the diameter but I dont think your teacher wants you to go that far.
Thank you very much Capuchin at lest you care about my question
And tried to help me.
Capuchin
Jun 1, 2007, 09:07 AM
I hope we can get to the point where I can help you ge the answer you are after.