{"page":"\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\nVideo\n
\n

\nOTD In Space - November 21: Astronomer 'Accidentally' Discovers Speed Of Light\n

\n
\n
\nGet Free Access for 10 Days!\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
×
\n\n\n
\n\nPublisher:\n\nCurated Video\n\n\n
\n
\nOn November 21, 1676, the Danish astronomer Ole Rømer discovered the speed of light. Before Rømer figured it out, scientists thought that light travels instantaneously, or infinitely fast. Rømer disproved this almost by accident when he...\nOn November 21, 1676, the Danish astronomer Ole Rømer discovered the speed of light.

Before Rømer figured it out, scientists thought that light travels instantaneously, or infinitely fast. Rømer disproved this almost by accident when he was studying Jupiter's moon Io. He was trying to figure out how long it takes Io to orbit Jupiter in hopes of using it as a cosmic clock. He watched Io disappear behind Jupiter and reappear on the other side. He did this over and over every 42 hours for years. To his surprise, the timing of the eclipses was not consistent. When Earth was closest to Jupiter, the eclipses happened 11 minutes early. Likewise, when the two planets were farthest away, the eclipses were 11 minutes behind schedule. Rømer figured out the pattern and made an accurate prediction for Io's eclipse on November 9, 1676. Then on Nov. 21, he took his findings to the Royal Academy of Sciences and explained that a finite speed of light must be responsible.\n
\n
\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Resource Details

\n
\n
\n
\n
Curator Rating
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Media Length
\n
1:08
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Grade
3rd - Higher Ed
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Subjects
Science
9 more...
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Media Type
Instructional Videos
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Source:
\n
\nFuture Publishing - Space.com\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Date
\n
2024
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n
Language
English
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Audiences
For Teacher Use
2 more...
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Usage Permissions
Fine Print: Educational Use
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Additional Materials

\n
\n\nSign in or Join Now
\" data-title=\"Get Full Access\" data-container=\"body\" rel=\"popover\" tabindex=\"0\" href=\"/subscription/new\">Video Transcript\n
\n
\n\nSign in or Join Now
\" data-title=\"Get Full Access\" data-container=\"body\" rel=\"popover\" tabindex=\"0\" href=\"/subscription/new\">Video Preview\n
\n
\n
\n

Concepts

\n
\n
space, facts, speed, jupiter, light, eclipses
\n
\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Additional Tags

\n
\n
news, did you know, speed of light, knowledge, space.com, on this day in space, otdis, ole romer, videosyndication, otd, videoelephant, november 21st, figure, 11 minutes, eclipse, happened
\n
\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Classroom Considerations

\n
Best For: Explaining a topic
Video is ad-free
\n
\n
\n

Educator Ratings

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\nShow resource details\n
\n
\n\" data-title=\"Get Full Access\" data-container=\"body\" rel=\"popover\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Play video: OTD In Space - November 21: Astronomer 'Accidentally' Discovers Speed Of Light\" href=\"/subscription/new\">\"OTD\n\n
\n
\n
\n\n\n\n"}