Apparent Size of Sun: Subtended Angle Calculated by Deniz

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SUMMARY

Deniz calculates the apparent size of the Sun by comparing it to the angular size of an aspirin tablet held at arm's length. The diameter of the aspirin tablet is 7 mm, and it is held 80 cm away from the eye. The angular size of the aspirin is calculated as \(7/800\) radians, which converts to approximately 0.501 degrees. This value aligns with the established fact that both the Sun and the Moon have an angular diameter of about half a degree.

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Deniz notices that the Sun can barely be covered by closing one eye and holding an
aspirin tablet, whose diameter is 7 mm, at arm’s length, which means 80 cm from Deniz’s
eye. Find the apparent size of the Sun, which is the size of the angle subtended by the Sun.Could I get some hints pls?

Thanks
 
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veronica1999 said:
Deniz notices that the Sun can barely be covered by closing one eye and holding an
aspirin tablet, whose diameter is 7 mm, at arm’s length, which means 80 cm from Deniz’s
eye. Find the apparent size of the Sun, which is the size of the angle subtended by the Sun.Could I get some hints pls?

Thanks

The angular size of the asprin at arms length is \(7/800\) radian, which is equal to the angular size of the sun.

Converting to degrees this is \((7/800)\times(180/\pi)\approx 0.501^{\circ}\), which agrees with what everyone should know: that the sun and moon have an angular diameter of about a half degree.

CB
 

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