England-2011-lab1-green

Lab Write-up for Group Green

Introduction

Description of task and approach

Despite being a completely arbitrary line, the prime meridian holds a great deal of significance for human navigation. During our visit to Greenwich, we used the prime meridian as a reference point for our assigned location. We estimated the latitude, longitude and elevation of the given spot using a GPS, a compass and human estimation. We used footsteps to determine our distance from the Royal Observatory as well as labels on a nearby lamppost.

Data Collection

Measurements & Raw data(raw data in bold)

1) LATITUDE:

Method 1 [Human Estimation] –royal observatory (51° 28’38.56”) – 25 m = 51.47737777766666° – (25m/111248.24m) = 51.477153055010373°

(lengths of degree latitude at 51° = 111248.24m)

Method 2 [GPS] – 51° 28.633’ = 51.477216666°

Method 3 [GoogleEarth] – 51°28'37.82"N = 51.4771722222°

2) LONGITUDE:

Method 1 [Human estimation/lightpole] – 0° 0.381’ + 21 m = 0.00635° + (21 m/70,197.65m) = 0.00664915°

(length of degree longitude at latitude 51° = 70,197.65m) Method 2 [GPS] – 0° 0.372’ (converted into decimal form = 0.0062°)

Method 3 [GoogleEarth] – 0° 0'22.42"W (converted into decimal form = 0.00062277777°)

3) ELEVATION:

Method 1 [Human estimation/lightpole] – 13 m

Method 2 [GPS] – 14 m

Method 3 [GoogleEarth] – 22 m

4) DUE NORTH:

A black gate and driveway for number 52 Mays Buildings Mews (written in stone next to the gate says “The Grange”)

5) DUE SOUTH:

Mays Court…and a housing complex called Beaver’s Housing Society…more specifically the birdfeeder in the front lawn

6) SHORTEST DISTANCE FROM PRIME MERIDIAN:

Method 1 [Human Pace] – 184 paces (estimated at .5 m/pace) X 2 = 184 m

Method 2 [GoogleEarth] – 432.3 m