How Big Is The Earth?

Introduction
During the time that that the human race has spent on earth, the search for
knowledge and understanding has taken over the minds of many people. Two
people who did just that are Eratosthenes, a Greek mathematician, geographer and
astronomer, from around the time of 240 B.C, who developed a way to calculate the
circumference of the earth and Alfred Russel Wallace from the 19th century who
proposed a way to calculate the radius of the earth by making use of formula
created by Eratosthenes. However in the way of recreating and proving this type of
math, the ideas and theorems of circles and Euclidean Geometry can be used.
This report looks at carrying out geometrical constructions and then proving the
results that have been demonstrated. During part one the maths which is
demonstrated is all about finding a radius with a chord and proving the formula
whereas part two demonstrates proving the same formula in part one but using the
Intersecting Chords Theorem. Part three demonstrates an understanding of research
processes and using prior information developed to prove another side of the issue.
Part One
Part one of this folio task is all about finding the radius with a chord, in
consideration to the diagram below, and being known that; ANB is an arc of a
circle,

AB

is a chord of the circle and

NM

is the perpendicular bisector of the

chord AB .

Figure 1: Labelled Chord and Perpendicular Bisector (from worksheet)

From the above information the radius of the earth can be determined to equal
1 y2
+x
2 x

) , the proof of this formula is shown below.

1 y2
Prover=
+x
2 x

)
From the information provided it is possible to find the
radius of the circle that contains the arc ANB . Which is

Addition of a Point C

why the first Point

has to be added to represent the

centre. This can be added

representation, Seek Figure 2.

to

the

diagram

for

Figure 2: Labelled Chord and Perpendicular Bisector with Radius and Centre

From this a line can be drawn from Point

A

to Point C , creating r, since Point

is a point on the circle. From this it can be seen that a triangle is formed,

which is also right angled, which furthermore enables the Pythagoras Theorem to
be used on AMC . AMC is known to be right angled due to the rule which
also means BC = AC .
The line

(rx )

that line is

( x)

is proven by the way that line

CN =r

and we know what a bit of

so we take it away from the radius to know the length of the line.

This is all added to the diagram, Seek Figure 2.

After this step, to find the radius relative to
r 2= y 2+ ( xr )2

and

x ,(rx ) , the Pythagoras theorem can be used, as it

not only is a right angled triangle but

CN

is a radius

which divides the chord into two equal part. This then in
turn, opens up the ability to rearrange to find the
formula of r .

To re-arrange this formula the first thing to do is expand

2
2
2
the brackets of (xr )
which comes to x 2 xr + r
due to bracket expansion rules. The next step is to take
2
the 2 xr +r
from the right hand side and place it on
r 2= y 2+ ( xr ) ( x r )
2

r = y + x 2 xr +r

the left, also making sure to change the signs. From that
2
2
2
step r
cancels out which leaves 2 xr = y + x , after

r 2+2 xrr 2= y 2 + x 2

this step the x from the left hand divides the right

y 2+ x 2
2 r=
x

hand equation. After these steps everything on the right

1
hand side can be multiplied by 2 , so that r can be

r=

1 y 2+ x 2
2
x

found. From

y +x
x

we can find

( )
y
+x
x

expanding the fractions into two parts like so

which when

x 2 is divided by

Therefore it has been proven that the radius;

r=

1 y2
+x
2 x

( )

which gives

by firstly

x.

To understand how this formula, it can be assumed that the Point

coordinates (6, 8), Point B

y 2 x2
+
x x

A has

is (14, 12) and Point N is (9.53, 10.94). By using these

values and the radius calculated above, Point C

can be located, on line NM .

Figure 3: Labelled Chord and Perpendicular Bisector with Radius, Centre and Labelled Points

The first step is to place all the information into the diagram, Seek Figure 3.
M

14+6 12+8

,
2
2

After finding all know information and placing it in

the diagram, Point M must be found which can be
done by the use of the midpoint formula, where the
numbers used are taken from line AB.

( 10, 10 )
y

( 106 ) + ( 108 )
2

After finding the midpoint of AB, the values for y

and x must be found. This can be done by finding
the length of the lines. To do this the numbers from
the point on the known lines are placed into the

42 +22
20
x

formula;

( 109.53 ) +(1010.94)2
2

, which as seen to the

left under the label of y, after the respective

numbers are placed into the formula each bracket
needs to be solved and then squared and solved

0 .47 +(.94 )
2

( x x ) +( y y )

0.2209+0.8836
1.1045
1
r =
2

20 + 1.1045

1.1045

After determining the values of x

and y , they

can be placed into the formula and the radius, of

10.04 , can be found.

By drawing diagrams by hand, inaccuracies associated with the construction can

arise. During the study of mathematics and forming a radius of the earth, Deductive
Reasoning and Assumptions have to be applied. Miscommunications and errors can
occur and include accuracy and precision of recoding and copying down data, as
well as the errors of the geography and times of recordings and Limitations can

occur with ratio sizing, and proving that the radius is in fact the calculated value.
During Part One, looked at the proofs of Congruent Triangles and solid maths to
make assumptions with proofs.
Activity: Verify the location of C and the value of r, by drawing an accurate diagram
of the circle with a compass on graph paper.
(Insert Here)
Part Two
The Points P ,

Q and R

shown in the diagram below.

lie on a circle with centre,

and radius,

r as

QS is the perpendicular bisector of the chord,

PR .

Figure 4: Labelled Diagram of Full Circle (from worksheet)

2

( )

1 y
By using the Intersecting Chords Theorem, the formula r= 2 x + x
by;

can be proven

Intersecting Chords Theorem, can be expressed as | A||B|=|C||D|

|Y ||Y |=| X||r +(rx )|

| 20|| 20|=| 1.1045||r +(r 1.1045)|

This
then
allows
each
segment to be expressed in
terms of x , y , and r .
Each segment can then be
multiplied
by
its
corresponding segment.

20=| 1.1045||r +(r 1.1045)|

19.03=|r+(r 1.1045)|
r 2=
r=

Then both sides are set equal

to each other and then rearranged to find r .

Part Three
In the 19th century Alfred Russel Wallace proposed a method for finding the
2

( )

1 y
radius of the Earth, which made use of the formula, r= 2 x + x

, demonstrated

in Part One and Two. Wallace set up three vertical poles in a line, each exactly 2
km apart, along a straight canal. The poles were exactly the same height above
sea level. When he looked from one end along the tops of the three poles, the
middle one was seen to be a little higher. This would have occurred due to the
curvature of the earth.
In context, the first proposed method and investigation was carried out
by Samuel Rowbotham, in the 1830s (n.a, 2015). His discovery concluded that
he earth was flat, which was done by using a telescope held eight inches above
the water to watch a boat with a five-foot mast row away from him until the
boat was 6 miles. His reports stated that the boat had remained inside of his
view the entire time which lead him to the assumption of a flat earth, because if
the earth was round, the top of the mast should have been some eleven feet
below his line of sight. Through this Wallace was able to use his knowledge in.
to determine that Rowbotham was seeing a mirage and re-conducted his
experiment in a more precise way, reducing the errors that he noticed in
Rowbothams experiment (Inglis-Arkell, 2014).
Before accepting this challenge I showed it to Sir Charles Lyell, and asked him
whether he thought I might accept it. He replied, "Certainly. It may stop these
foolish people to have it plainly shown them. - Alfred Russel Wallace (Hunter,
2015).
When Wallace looked from one end along the tops of the three poles, the middle
one was seen to be a little higher. As presented in Figure 5: Alfred Russel
Wallace's Radius of the Earth, the earth is curved. This is depicted through the
arced black line which represents the earth, the black lines from the
perpendicular bisector to the points A, B and C represent the poles, and the
orange line represents the line of sight. From the diagram it can be determine
that point A and B will lie on the same y coordinate as each other as
noted by Wallace ().
When developing a mathematical proof like the maths behind the radius of the
earth, 3 points are taken, with points A , B and C being vertical, and point
C

in addition aligning with the x

coordinate of the centre of the earth which

from this it can be determined there is a perpendicular bisector crossing the

point CO (where O is origin=centre) and AO/BO as AO=BO as seen in Part One.
This knowledge connects the knowledge of Wallaces theory and the information
through Part One and Two.
In continuation, with the pre-existing proofs explored previously, assuming that
there is a straight line, and a reference point is located, with another vertical
line created, the difference of the angles between the reference point and the
new line. The knowledge of straight are parallel lines can also be used, which

states that, as an example, that the line CO as extended, they will always go
through the centre of the circle.
Therefore the conclusion can be made that if multiple poles were to be place on
different points on the circle, some would appear lower and some would appear
higher when viewing.

Figure 5: Alfred Russel Wallace's Radius of the Earth

After making the necessary preparations and limiting his random and
systematic error, Wallace measured the height difference between the poles as
correctly as he could and determined the height difference to be 314mm. From
the relationships developed in Part Two and Wallaces data can be reformed to
find the radius of the earth. The above show how these measurements relate to
the relationships investigated in Part Two.
By using data from Part Two, the radius can be found, based on the previous
x and
y
x value can be determined to be equal to
values. The
314 mm
0.000314 km , the height difference of the poles, where 314mm comes from
Wallaces measurement of the height difference and
the conversion of mm

0.000314 km

to m . After determining x , the

comes from
value can be

determined to be equal to 2 km , in which the data came from the distance in

which the poles were separated. The x

value can then be converted into

km

so that the units are equal, and because it makes the calculations slightly easier
to work with. These values can then get substituted into the equation for the
1 y 2+ x 2
r=
radius,
2
x

) , resulting in a value of

6369.43 km .

After these calculations were done, modern maths and science views developed
and allowed the current accepted value for the volumetric mean radius of the

earth to be found as 6,371.008km (William, 2016). This shows us that the result
calculated by Wallace and re-constructed above was only 0.02 smaller than
the accepted value. Distances from point locations on the surface to the centre
of the earth have been found to have a range from 6,353 km to 6,384 km , which
is can also be used as proof that the earth is circular in shape but not perfect.
Therefore, it can be said, that the maths seen in Part One and Two is based on
the assumption that the earth is perfectly round, which has been proven not to
be the case, therefore using this formula to find the radius would vary
depending on the point location and method of measurement. The calculated
value, is very close to the true value, but there are limitations and reasons why
Wallaces value isnt exact which can include; Local geography, Measuring tools
and even a slight difference in Pole sizes, and how they were placed.
Conclusion
Through-out the years the debate of whether or not the earth was flat has been
a hot topic, and on the basis that the earth is flat how big is earth has been
mathematically and scientifically proven. Through-out time Wallace was able to
come to a mathematical conclusion that the earth was 6369.43km, which had a
0.02 difference to todays true value.
References
Hunter, D. (2015, January 12). Scientific American. Retrieved from Wallaces Woeful
Wager: How a Founder of Modern Biology Got Suckered by Flat-Earthers:
<http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/rosetta-stones/wallace-8217-s-woeful-wagerhow-a-founder-of-modern-biology-got-suckered-by-flat-earthers/>
Inglis-Arkell, E. (2014, August 27). Gizmodo. Retrieved from A Historic Experiment
Shows Why We Might Not Want to Debate Fanatics: <http://io9.gizmodo.com/ahistoric-experiment-shows-why-we-might-not-want-to-de-1627339811>
n.a. (2015, April 9). Flat Earth Society. Retrieved from Alfred Russel Wallace:
https://wiki.tfes.org/Alfred_Russel_Wallace
William,
D.
(2016,
May
19).
NASA.
Retrieved
from
n.a:
<http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/earthfact.html>