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How many degrees does the sun appear to travel in an hour?

2 Answers

5 votes

Answer:

Using approximate measurememts, the earth's equatorial circumference is 24,000 miles and the earth rotates once in 24 hours so the speed of rotation at the equator is

24,000 mi./24 hours = 1,000 mi/hr.

But we can also measure the angular speed of rotation.

360 degrees/24 hr = 15 degrees per hour.

(The angle subtended by the sun is the angle from one edge of the sun to the opposite edge)

(The sun is about the same angular size as a pea held at arms length.) (The angular size of the moon)

1/2 degree/15 degrees/hr = 1/30 hr = 2 minutes.

So when the bottom of the sun touches the horizon as it sets near the equator it will vanish in 2 minutes.

Step-by-step explanation:

answered
User Mark Cameron
by
8.2k points
2 votes

Answer:15 degrees

Step-by-step explanation:

360 degrees/24hr = 15 degrees per hour.

answered
User Fuentes
by
7.6k points

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