Photo by molajen - Creative Commons Attribution License N00Created with Haiku Deck.

Photo by molajen - Creative Commons Attribution License http://www.flickr.com/photos/60942443@N00 Created with Haiku Deck

Learning about Egyptian Legacies

• Get into 4 groups• Task: Complete 4 learning stations• Duration: 10 minutes at each

station

Activity Time: 4 learning stationsLearning Task LocationSundial Learning Station 1Water Clock Learning Station 2Pyramid Precision Learning Station 3Google Map Learning Station 4

Summary of StationsStation Answers

Sundial Conclusion: The movement of the Sun relative to Earth enabled estimation of the time.

Pro: Sundials can tell the time immediately using a simple device with no moving parts.

Con: However it would not work when the sky is overcast, or at night.

Water Clock

Conclusion: Water escapes at a regular pace.

Pro: Man used this method as it enabled reliable timekeeping, even at night.

Con: It needs to be continually refilled

Summary of StationsStation Answers

Pyramid Precision

1) Researchers estimate that the Great Pyramid…. a) Was built in 23 years at mostb) Required 2,500,000 stones in total and weighed

6,500,000 tonsc) Had its stones delivered at the average rate of 1

per minuted) The average length of its edges was 230.36 m e) The largest difference between the length of its

edges was 4.4 cm (0.044 m)This means that the Pyramid formed an almost perfect SQUARE!

Summary of StationsStation Answers

Pyramid Precision

f) Its original height = 146.59 m

g) If you multiply the average length of an edge by 2, then divide by the original height, what number do you get? 3.143

h) value of pi (): 3.142

We do not know if the Egyptians knew the value of Pi, or whether this is a coincidence.

Nonetheless many people believe that Egyptian mathematics was highly advanced, and that the Pyramid shows this in many ways.

Summary of StationsStation Answers

Pyramid Precision

2)a) The base of the Pyramid is level to within 0.021 mb) In other words, this gigantic structure was built on

a base which was almost perfectly FLAT!

3) Based on your findings above, what conclusions can you make about the builders of the Great Pyramid?

Its builders were incredibly skilled / precise / careful / advanced

Summary of StationsStation AnswersGoogle Maps

Actual dimensions: A & B = 230 m, C = 73.5m

1. The sides of the Giza Pyramids are aligned to the four points of the compass

2. The Sphinx points east

3. The Latitude in URL is 29.9796084

The Speed of light in a vacuum is 299 792 458 metres per secondThe two numbers are similar up to the fifth digit

Whether this is a coincidence, or proof of the advanced knowledge of the Egyptians, remains controversial

Thinking Time!

•Would we be able to build the Giza pyramid today, using the same tools as the Egyptians? Why or why not?• Is the pyramid a useful legacy?•Which Egyptian legacy is most useful

to us today? Why so ?