image taken from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20th_March_2015_total_solar_eclipse_cropped.jpg
Taken from NASA.gov: One of the reasons that ancient peoples could not predict total solar eclipses was because they did not appreciate the mathematics involved in forecasting. Also, many of the parameters needed to accurately predict eclipses had not been astronomically measured until the first century CE. If you are taking a trip to visit Grandma in another town and want to predict at what time you will arrive, it really helps to know how, many road miles you will be traveling and how fast you will go!
Below you will find links to 3 math challenges that will take you through some of the basic mathematics related to the August 21, 2017 eclipse. Complete the challenges and submit them to the EY Coordinator at your building. You may also post a comment about something new you learned.
Challenge 1 – Working with Geographic Coordinates
Challenge 2 – X Marks the Spot
Challenge 8 – Exploring Angular Diameter