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Science project idea on how places on the earth's surface are indicated.
How Places on the Earth's Surface are Indicated- Science Project Idea
A ship having become disabled at sea needs help. It has a wireless outfit for calling assistance, but how is it to indicate its position to the rescuing ship? Winds and  currents may have carried it far out of its course. Evidently it is impossible to give its location by stating its position in miles from certain points. The officer in charge, by noting the difference between his sun time and the time registered by his chronometer (a very accurate clock) giving the time at Greenwich, is able to determine his position in degrees of longitude, east or west of Greenwich. Vessels within reach of wireless stations receive daily the correct Greenwich time. This is more satisfactory than dependence on chronometers. Why? The north and south position is determined, by comparing the height above the horizon of a known fixed star as it crosses  the meridian, with tables in his nautical almanac giving the height of this star above the horizon at different distances from the equator. For example, where would the Pole Star appear to you if you were at the North Pole? Where would it appear to you if you were at the Equator? If you should travel from the Equator to the North Pole how would the position of the Pole Star seem to change?
The distance from the equator is measured by degrees of latitude. The equator is zero, and the poles 90. Thus any place on the earth's  surface may be accurately determined by giving its latitude and longitude. The navigating officer of a ship with these means of determining his position, by consulting his charts and by the use of the compass is able to direct his course with surprising accuracy. 1. Chart the position of the sun above the horizon at a certain hour every day for a month. Interpret the results. 2. At a certain hour one day each week determine the amount of earth surface covered by a column of sunlight whose cross section is one square foot. Science Project Report Ideas 1. Make, a chart showing the relative length of day and night throughout the year. Accompany this by a diagram showing the cause of the differences in the length of day and night. 2. Make a chart showing the standard time belts. 3. Give method of determining latitude and longitude of a place.
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