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zuz
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If you stood on a lighthouse high above with a very accurate transit, would you be able to detect the curvature of the earth?
Or from the other direction, it is a standard thing in ship navigation to have handy a table of height vs horizon distance in order to predict when (how far away) you should see navigation aids.Klystron said:There is an old tale that lighthouse keepers with telescopes would watch for expected sailing ships then warn merchants below with appropriate flags for different vessels. First they saw the tips of the tallest masts on the horizon, then the sails, then the body of the approaching ship; thereby confirming the curvature of the ocean surface.
I doubt one can be a flat earther put an honest effort into it. It really isn't hard. The method described here requires only a nice day on the beach with a pair of binoculars, watching ships (with access to google and/or a ship tracking app).profbuxton said:No flat earther has ever been able to measure the curvature of the earth.
Theoretically, it is easy. Practically not so.zuz said:If you stood on a lighthouse high above with a very accurate transit, would you be able to detect the curvature of the earth?
"Detect", not "measure".zoki85 said:Theoretically, it is easy. Practically not so.
Regarding precision one may face problems due to refractive index of atmosphere, and the change in the dip of horizon from case to case. Read old article considering these issues:
http://www.fer3.com/arc/imgx/Dip-of-the-horizon-Freiesleb.pdf
A mere detection can be issue in extreme cases. Fata Morgana miragesruss_watters said:"Detect", not "measure".
The curvature of the Earth refers to the gradual slope or bend of the Earth's surface. It is the result of the Earth's spherical shape and is measured in degrees.
The curvature of the Earth is calculated using the formula for the circumference of a circle. This formula takes into account the radius of the Earth and the distance between two points on its surface.
The curvature of the Earth becomes visible at a distance of approximately 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) from the observer. This is due to the Earth's large size and the fact that it is a relatively smooth sphere.
While the curvature of the Earth may not have a direct impact on our daily lives, it does play a crucial role in navigation and the design of structures such as bridges and roads. It also affects the way we perceive distances and the shape of the horizon.
The curvature of the Earth remains relatively consistent across the globe, but it may appear more pronounced in areas with higher elevations or steep terrain. Additionally, the Earth's curvature is slightly greater at the poles compared to the equator due to the Earth's oblate spheroid shape.