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Earth radius (denoted as R 🜨 or R E) is the distance from the center of Earth to a point on or near its surface. Approximating the figure of Earth by an Earth spheroid (an oblate ellipsoid), the radius ranges from a maximum (equatorial radius, denoted a) of nearly 6,378 km (3,963 mi) to a minimum (polar radius, denoted b) of nearly 6,357 km (3,950 mi).
Columbus's knowledge of the Atlantic wind patterns was, however, imperfect at the time of his first voyage. By sailing directly due west from the Canary Islands during hurricane season, skirting the so-called horse latitudes of the mid-Atlantic, Columbus risked either being becalmed or running into a tropical cyclone, both of which, by chance ...
The gravity g′ at depth d is given by g′ = g(1 − d/R) where g is acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the Earth, d is depth and R is the radius of the Earth. If the density decreased linearly with increasing radius from a density ρ 0 at the center to ρ 1 at the surface, then ρ ( r ) = ρ 0 − ( ρ 0 − ρ 1 ) r / R , and the ...
[5] [4] Totaling 60,440 km, or 37,560 mi, [6] the nearly three-year voyage achieved the first circumnavigation of Earth in history. [3] It also marked the first crossing of the Pacific by a European expedition, [7] revealing the vast scale of that ocean, and proved that ships could sail around the world on a western sea route. [4] [8]
It is deflected through a small angle θ due to its attraction F towards P and its weight W directed towards the Earth. The vector sum of W and F results in a tension T in the pendulum string. The Earth has a mass M E, radius r E and a density ρ E. The two gravitational forces on the plumb-bob are given by Newton's law of gravitation:
In 1672, Jean Richer found the first evidence that gravity was not constant over the Earth (as it would be if the Earth were a sphere); he took a pendulum clock to Cayenne, French Guiana and found that it lost 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 minutes per day compared to its rate at Paris. [3] [4] This indicated the acceleration of
At a fixed point on the surface, the magnitude of Earth's gravity results from combined effect of gravitation and the centrifugal force from Earth's rotation. [2] [3] At different points on Earth's surface, the free fall acceleration ranges from 9.764 to 9.834 m/s 2 (32.03 to 32.26 ft/s 2), [4] depending on altitude, latitude, and longitude.
Dick Smith, 1994–95, first east–west circumnavigation by helicopter, in a Sikorsky S-76, a distance traveled of 73,352 kilometres (39,407 nautical miles). Peter Joohak Lee, 1998, first Asian to circumnavigate the globe on a single engine aircraft. Using a Cherokee 235, he traveled east for 36 days and 29,920 miles. [51] [52] [53]