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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Early clocks weren't up to measuring longitude at sea for two reasons. They were not accurate and changed because of what while at sea?

2. What was the problem with pendulum clocks on ships?

3. How long did Harrison work before receiving his monetary reward?

4. What unusual occurrence helped in early navigation at sea?

5. Before using clocks to navigate longitude, sailors used the __________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What two advances did Thacker's chronometer make? Why did it still not work?

2. What was the main problem with the "lunar-distance" method?

3. In 1740, the Centurion set sail for the South Pacific without Harrison's clock. What might have been different about the voyage if they would have taken the clock? Why?

4. What was Galileo's longitude solution?

5. Explain the title of Chapter 5: Powder of Sympathy.

6. In Chapter 2: The Sea Before Time, what happened to Sir Clowdisley's voyage?

7. Compare Newton's thoughts about the solution of the longitude problem at the beginning of Chapter 6: The Prize to his thoughts at the end of the chapter.

8. What was Humphrey Ditton's suggestion for determining longitude?

9. What is the main difference, as identified in Chapter 1, between latitude and longitude?

10. In 1530, Flemish astronomer Gemma Frisiusm wrote that the clocks of his day "provided no problem to those who traveled." In reality, what were the problems with clocks of his day for travel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Complete a historical analysis of John Harrison. How would you describe him? What qualities did he posses that helped him to be successful?

Essay Topic 2

In an essay, analyze the role Nevil Maskelyne played in the quest to solve the longitude problem.

Essay Topic 3

What role did the astronomers elitism play in the quest for solving the longitude problem?

(see the answer keys)

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