I am not in Physics, but I am currently taking a trigonometry class, but I believe my question may belong here. During during the semester, we measured objects indirectly using the suns shadow and distance of the object to find the height of an object. Lets assume, humans were on another planet such as mars, would the same formulas be applicable to mars? Does the distance or position of our sun affect the answer for getting the height of an object? What if people were in a planet outside our solar system. Would the position or distance of the sun affect the answers there?

Question

theeric · Answer

I think this looks like what you did:|dw:1374992610548:dw|

It works because the shadow is made down an angle, depending on where the sun is in the sky.

The light from the Sun is pretty much in one direction. I mean, its light goes everywhere, but the light that reaches us is pretty much pointed in one direction.|dw:1374992803625:dw|
I'm not sure... But I really Mars would be the same way. And if you're farther from the Sun than the Earth is, it'll definitely work! As long as you can see the shadow from the Sun.

theeric · Answer

But I'm betting it will work. The only real trouble is that the shadow would get fuzzier closer to the sun.

Is there something else you'd like to know, related to this, or as a continuation of this?

anonymous · Answer

Thanks for spending the time to draw it out and explain it to me! Looks like your right! That's about it! Thank you!

theeric · Answer

Haha, you're welcome!

anonymous · Answer

^^

anonymous · Answer

Lol If your still here. Would the same explanation work for a planet outside our solar system?

theeric · Answer

I'd have to so no, not practically. You don't get shadows from stars, you know.

If you could isolate the light from that one far away start, then yes. Otherwise, you wouldn't see the shadow.

anonymous · Answer

Hmm.. Interesting! Okay I don't have further questions. Thank you!

theeric · Answer

Haha, you're welcome again! :)