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and
Taking this idea further, you can see that if you draw a small circle of radius r,
concentric with the larger circle of radius R, that for both circles the relationship
2 = circumference/radius is still true.
= S/R and = s/r so therefore S/R = s/r
There is a really easy way to measure approximate angular diameters in the sky
by using the angular diameters of your fingers. You can calibrate your fingers
using objects on the walls of your room, by knowing the distance from the wall
and the absolute diameter of the object as follows:
Select a picture on the wall, and step back from it. Hold your hand out at
arms length. Close one eye, and hold up one finger, adjusting your distance from
the picture on the wall so that your finger just blocks out your view of the entire
picture. The angle subtended by your finger and the angle subtended by the
picture, as seen from your eye, are the same.
Again, letting s = the width of your finger, r = the horizontal distance from your
eye to your outstretched hand, S = the linear diameter of the object on the wall,
and R = the distance from your eye to the wall, the same angular relationship
holds true:
s/r = S/R = finger or the distance from you eye to your finger just the width of
the picture and the distance from your eye to the picture when you are far
enough from the wall so that your finger just obscures the width of the picture.
This works out because, for small angles which are less than 15o (or around 0.26
radians), the angular diameter and the linear diameter are very nearly equal.
So, you will now proceed to find the angular diameter of your thumb, index finger,
two fingers, three fingers, four fingers, fist, and open palm. You will then have
your personal tool for measuring angles in the sky. When you go out observing
with friends, and you are trying to point out a faint but interesting object, you will
be able to communicate distances and directions in the sky in an understandable
way instead of saying, Look up and to the right from that tree....
Procedure:
1) Find a suitable picture on the wall, or other conveniently flat object.
Close one eye, and stand where your thumb just blocks out your view of the
picture when you hold your thumb out at arms length. BE SURE TO HOLD
YOUR ARM OUTSTRETCHED AT THE SAME POSITION FOR EVERY
MEASUREMENT!
2) Measure the distance from where you are standing to the wall (R).
Measure the diameter[or width if picture is rectangular] of the picture (S). BE
SURE TO MAKE ALL YOUR MEASUREMENTS IN CENTIMETERS. (or inches,
it matters not - just be consistent!)
Record all your measurements in a DATA TABLE as you make them.
3) Calculate the angular diameter of your thumb in radians as = S/R.
(Since we already established that s/r = S/R = , you need only measure S and
R. You do not measure the width of your thumb or the distance from your eye to
you thumb.)
4) Convert your angular measurement from radians to degrees:
360o = 2 radians, so 360o/2 = 1 radian, or 1 radian = 57.3o.
DATA TABLE : Download and use the Data Table included in the Report form
for this lab.
Using your new-found tool: Now that you have a reference, go out tonight and
measure the angular diameter of the:
Moon
(If Orion is not available when youre making your measurements, select and
measure another constellation. Be sure to identify it.
Record these measurements in the Report form for this experiment.
* The Idea for the first part of this lab was developed and put on the Internet for anyone to use. In
appreciation we list the following credits: RAAP Introductory Astonomy Labcontributed by: Jatila
van der Veen, Adolfo Camarillo High School, and UCSB / RAAP