Work with new vocabulary and do the tasks to remember it
Lesson 1
From Historical Development of Geodesy (Part 1)
- Read and memorize new words and expressions on the text:
the question of the figure of the Earth
to raise in the antiquity
the model of the earth
rotational ellipsoid
the notion
founder of scientific geodesy
to develop the principles of measurements
to apply in modern ages
summer solstice
2. Read and translate the text:
From Historical Development of Gеodesy
The formulation of the problem of geodesy first developed in the course of the 19th century. However, the question of the figure of the Earth had already been raised in antiquity. First the model of the Earth looked like the sphere, then - like rotational ellipsoid in the first part of the 18th century.
Various opinions on the form of the Earth prevailed in the past: e. g. the notion of an Earth disk encircled by Oceanus (Homer's Illiad). The founder of scientific geodesy is Eratosthenes of Alexandria, who measured the radius for the Earth and developed the principles of the arc measurements, which are still applied in modern ages.
During the middle ages in Europe, the question of the figure of the Earth was not pursued further. At the beginning of the modern ages, the French physicist Fennel in 1525 observed on the meridian through Paris, the geographical latitudes of Paris and Amiens using a quadrant; he computed the distance from the number of rotations of a wagon wheel. The remaining arc measurements were characterized by fundamental advances in instrumentation technology (1611, Kepler telescope), methodology (Gemma Frisius, Tycho Brahe, Willebrord Snellius and so on).
3. Give Ukrainian equivalents to the followingwords and expressions:
a) the question of the figure of the Earth
b) to raise in the antiquity
c) the model of the earth
d) rotational ellipsoid
e) the notion
f) founder of scientific geodesy
g) to develop the principles of measurements
h) to apply in modern ages
i) summer solstice
j) to form an angle
k) to compute the distance
l) to assume the leading role of geodesy
m) geocentric universe
n) to discover the laws of planetary motion
o) principles of physics
4. Complete the sentences:
a) The formulation of the problem of geodesy ...
b) First the model of the Earth …
c) During the Middle Ages in Europe...
d) Through the initiative of the Academy of Sciences...
e) In the 16 and 17 centuries...
f) Building on these and on their own works...
- 5. Answer the questions:
a) Who was the founder of geodesy?
b) When were the problems of geodesy raised first?
c) What were the opinions about the form of the Earth?
d) Do you know the scientists who made contribution in geodesy?
e) What happened in 1666?
f) Why were 16 and17 centuries important for geodesy?