Mathematics and Society - OS X Lion Server

,~ THE SUNWITt-UN RANGE? (Can a homemade range finder be used to help measure the distance to the Sun?I. To construct the range finder:II.1. Place a large sturdy cardboard boxupside down on a table. The boxshould be at least 50 cm long.2. Cover the upper surface with cleanpaper.3. Draw a straight line segment alongone of the long sides and label itthe base line.4. At one endpoint draw a line segmentperpendicular to the base line andlabel it the sighting line.5. Place straight pins upright at bothendpoints of the sighting line.6. Construct a sighting bar from apiece of heavy cardboard. Draw aline segment in the center andplace straight pins upright at bothendpoints.Move the range finder along thesighting line so that it is closerto the object. Since the sightingbar no longer lines up with theobject it must also be moved. SeeFigure 2.cb oe.:rECT" I ' ,,,\,I \I \, ,I',,, ',,, ,S!~I4T!lJc.L!lJE8 S L1k1EBASE LINEBefore trying to measure the distance to the Sun with the range finder practice usingit.1.2.Pick out an object on the oppositeside of the classroom. Positionthe range finder so that thesighting line lines up with theobject. Place the sighting bar atthe other end of the base line sothat it lines up with the object.See Figure 1.FI~UR.E 1FIGUR.E 2.,I,I,~"" , I, ,, II I, ,, 'm, ,, I: I,', I. ,I ,rU'-------!-ll :, ,l..:~_._. ~((86 IDEA FROM: In Orbit, Probing the Natural World~ Level III, Intermediate Science Curriculum StudyPermission to use granted by Silver Burdett General Learning Corporation