The article describes a DIY experiment to measure the size of the Earth using Lego blocks. The idea is to create two identical shadow devices and drive one of them a certain distance away, while measuring the shadow length and angle with both devices at the same time. By using trigonometry, the shadow angles can be converted into radians, allowing for the calculation of the radius of the Earth.
The article outlines the steps involved in setting up the experiment:
1. Create two identical shadow devices using Lego blocks.
2. Drive one device a certain distance away (at least 100 kilometers).
3. Measure the length and angle of the shadows with both devices at the same time.
4. Convert the angles from degrees to radians.
5. Use trigonometry to calculate the radius of the Earth based on the measured angles and distances.
The article concludes by noting that if the calculated radius is close to 6.3 x 10^6 meters, then the experiment was successful in measuring the size of the Earth using Lego blocks.
It's worth noting that this experiment is a humorous and creative way to approach the measurement of the Earth's size, rather than a serious scientific endeavor. The article is intended to entertain and educate readers on the basics of trigonometry and geometry, rather than providing a precise or accurate measurement of the Earth's radius.
The article outlines the steps involved in setting up the experiment:
1. Create two identical shadow devices using Lego blocks.
2. Drive one device a certain distance away (at least 100 kilometers).
3. Measure the length and angle of the shadows with both devices at the same time.
4. Convert the angles from degrees to radians.
5. Use trigonometry to calculate the radius of the Earth based on the measured angles and distances.
The article concludes by noting that if the calculated radius is close to 6.3 x 10^6 meters, then the experiment was successful in measuring the size of the Earth using Lego blocks.
It's worth noting that this experiment is a humorous and creative way to approach the measurement of the Earth's size, rather than a serious scientific endeavor. The article is intended to entertain and educate readers on the basics of trigonometry and geometry, rather than providing a precise or accurate measurement of the Earth's radius.
The math behind it is pretty clever too - using trigonometry to figure out the Earth's size. But you gotta remember, it's not meant to be taken super seriously. Like, we're talking about a rough estimate here 
. I'm all for creative problem-solving and having fun with science, but if I want an accurate measurement of the Earth's radius, I'll stick with NASA 
. Still, kudos to whoever came up with this idea - it's definitely a unique way to learn about geometry! 
this DIY experiment is literally genius 
i mean sure it won't give you an exact answer but it's a fun way to learn about trigonometry and geometry 
and let's be real 6.3 x 10^6 meters is like, super close to the actual radius 
so yeah i think this experiment is a win in my book 
keeps me entertained all day long 
. I mean, it's not like they're trying to win a Nobel Prize or anything, just having fun with math and science. It's great that kids (and adults!) can get excited about learning without it feeling too boring or serious 
.
) but in real life! I mean, who needs fancy satellites when you can use LEGO bricks to measure the size of our planet? 