LOST AT SEA: THE SEARCH FOR LONGITUDE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhxe8Wn8uiU&t=29s

Panth Desai

Longitude and time are connected. Since the earth revolves on its axis every
24 hours, and there are 360 degrees in a full revolution, people have long
known that the earth rotates 15 degrees longitude every hour. How could this
fact be used to reliably calculate longitude at sea? This video explains how this
was accomplished.

WHILE VIEWING THE VIDEO, TAKE NOTES SO AS TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE

FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN FULL SENTENCES AFTERWARDS:

1. What did John Harrison do for a living?

Clock Making

2. How was the speed of ship measures using a rope with knots tied in it?

This way of measuring the speed of the ships is bizarre compared to today’s
technology.

3. Was this method accurate? Explain.

This method was not accurate because it didn’t accurately measure cross winds and
currents.

4. How was latitude calculated on a ship?

By measuring the angle between the sun and the horizon

5. What happened in 1707? Why did this make determining longitude a high
priority?

The Scilly Naval Disaster of 1707 was the sinking of 4 warships of the British royal fleet.
A big factor was the navigator’s inability to calculate their positions accurately.

6. What prize was offered in 1714?

The prize of $20,000 pounds which accounted for today equalled millions of pounds.

7. What was John Harrison’s educational background? Why was he not taken
seriously by eminent scientists at the time?

He was self-taught
 8. What was his idea for finding longitude? What, exactly, do you need, and how do
you use these devices? Do not quote from the video- answer my question
directly in 21st century English!

Harrison used the time to calculate the longitude. He found out that if he finds the time
at the home port, he will find the number of degrees out a ship is depending on how
long it takes the sun to reach its high point

9. Describe Harrison’s early clocks. Were they accurate?

Harrison’s early clock was accurate because they were made by wood and a pendulum
was used at almost accurately find the time.

10.In clock making, what was the enemy to accuracy? How did he get around this?

Friction was the enemy of accuracy. Harrison used tropical wood to combat this.

11.What are the problems associated with using a clock on a ship?

The humidity, the changes in atmospheric pressure, different gravity in different

latitudes, enormous changes in temperature and the rocking of the ship affect the
materials of early timekeepers.

12.Why were astronomical methods for determining longitude not practical on a

ship?

It was impossible to determine the longitude using astronomical methods because

telescopes were needed. These instruments couldn’t be used with the rocking of the
boat.

13.H4 was proved a success, but he was not immediately awarded the prize. Why
not?

The accuracy was still debated of the H4 by the Board. Furthermore, they only offered
10,000 euros in advance and told John Harrison that he will get the rest after they
duplicate the watch.

14.Did Harrison get the money? How much time had passed?

Harrison had an audience with King George III and he received a monetary award of
8750 euros at age 80. He never did receive the full award of the Longitude Act.

15.What do modern navigators use to pinpoint positions now?

Modern navigators use GPS and ECDIS(Electronic Chart Display and Informations
Systems) to pinpoint accurate locations in the sea/ocean.
 16.If it were 10:00 AM at your point of departure when it was noon on board your
ship, how many degrees longitude would you have travelled, and in what
direction?

You’ve travelled 30 degrees west from homeport

17.If it were 5:00 PM at your point of departure when it was noon on board your
ship, how many degrees longitude would you have travelled, and in what
direction?

You’ve travelled 75 degrees East from your point of departure.