Solar Eclipse Math Challenges

One of the reasons that ancient peoples could not predict total solar eclipses was because they did not appreciate the mathematics involved in forecasting. Also, many of the parameters needed to accurately predict eclipses had not been astronomically measured until the first century CE. If you are taking a trip to visit Grandma in another town and want to predict at what time you will arrive, it really helps to know how, many road miles you will be traveling and how fast you will go!

Here are a selection of math challenges that will take you through some of the basic mathematics related to the August 21, 2017 eclipse.  The mathematics level span all grades and abilities from elementary proportions and algebra all the way up to trigonometry and, yes, the calculus!

Challenge 1 – Working with Geographic Coordinates

Challenge 2 – X Marks the Spot

Challenge 3 – X Marks the Spot

Challenge 4 – X- Marks the Spot with Quadratic Equations

Challenge 5 – Estimating the Speed of the Lunar Shadow

Challenge 6 – As the Crow Flies on a Spherical Planet

Challenge 7 – Exploring the Lunar Shadow Cone

Challenge 8 – Exploring Angular Diameter

Challenge 9 – Lunar Shadow Size on Earth’s Surface

Challenge 10 – Shadow Speed and Earth’s Rotation

Challenge 11 – Modeling Shadow Speed, Diameter and Duration along the Path of Totality

Challenge 12 – Shadow Ground Speed

Challenge 13 – The Last Total Solar Eclipse on Earth

Challenge 14 – Time on Mars

Challenge 15 – Angular Size and Views of the Earth-Moon System

Answer Key for Challenge

source: https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/math-challenges