Skyline horizon from a mountain 130 km away

Author:

Ruiz Michael JORCID

Abstract

Abstract How far is the horizon? A photograph of a city skyline taken from a mountain (elevation 1610 m) at a distance of 130 km is used to introduce the question. The formula that relates the distance to the horizon from an elevated observer is easy to derive when refraction is neglected. The observed horizon distance of the skyline is compared with the theoretical horizon limit of this simple formula. Finally, refraction is discussed and shown to increase the limit by about 10%. A highly interactive component making measurements on Google Maps is included. Introductory students at the high school and first-year college level will find this real-life physics application that incorporates photography, geography, online maps, Earth science, and elementary mathematics very stimulating.

Publisher

IOP Publishing

Subject

General Physics and Astronomy,Education

Reference20 articles.

1. An official website of the State of North Carolina;Photographer and Conservationist Hugh Morton,2016

2. Hugh Morton;Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation,n.d.

3. Hugh Morton Collection of Photographs & Films;Morton,1994

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3