Question

To determine the diameter of the sun, an astronomer might sight with a transit (a devise used by surveyors for measuring angles), first to one edge of the sun and then to the other, finding that the included angle equals 32 minutes (32'). Assuming that the distance from the Earth to the sun is 92,919,800 miles, calculate the diameter of the sun.

Answer 1

Tan (16 minutes) = half-solar diameter / 92,919,800
Tan (0.2666666667 degrees) = half-solar diameter / 92,919,800
0.0046542 = half-solar diameter / 92,919,800
half-solar diameter = 92,919,800 * .0046542
half-solar diameter = 432,467

times 2 is the
solar diameter = 864,935 miles