How to Calculate the Circumference of Earth Using Google Earth
Google's Google Earth application lets users view and manipulate a 3D satellite image of the Earth. This application is a useful education tool, not only for teaching geography, but for teaching math as well. With the help of a simple math equation that equates the Earth's circumference in miles to the number of degrees in a circle, you can also use the Google Earth application to calculate the Earth's circumference.
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Instructions
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1
Double-click the Google Earth application icon to launch the application. Click the "View" tab and select the "Grid" option from the "View" menu to view the latitude and longitude lines in Google Earth.
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2
Click the "Add Placemark" button. Type "0" in the space labeled "Latitude" and type any value in the space labeled "Longitude." Click the "OK" button to add the placemark along the equator in Google Earth.
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3
Repeat the previous step, replacing the previous longitude coordinate with a longitude coordinate that is 10 degrees greater. Take note that the difference between the two points is 10 degrees.
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4
Click the "Ruler" icon to bring up the ruler tool. Click the first placemark you created in step 2, followed by the second placemark you created in step 3.
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5
Click the drop-down menu and select the unit of measurement you want the distance to be displayed in. Write down the distance displayed in the "Ruler" window.
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6
Use the following equation to calculate the Earth's circumference: circumference/distance measured = 360/degrees. The distance you obtained in the previous step will be entered into the "Distance Measured" field and the degree difference between your two points will be entered into the "Degrees" field. Divide 360 by the degree difference and multiply this value by the distance measured to obtain the Earth's circumference.
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