kwgs: : PRI's The World - Geo Quiz Podcast 440 (2009-11-24)

RADIO

PRI's The World - Geo Quiz Podcast 440

Around the World, in Miles A Swiss company called Solar Impulse is hoping to mount the first solar-powered flight around the world. It just tested out an ultra-light, one-passenger plane...that runs on four sun-powered electric motors. Technicians demo'd the aircraft at an airbase near Zurich. They revved up the engines ... released the brakes and let it roll forward... but only a few feet. Its first REAL flying test is planned for next year. An around-the world-flight attempt is still at least two years away. But think for a second --- when and if the Solar Impulse ever flies around the earth -- how far would that be? Your task: calculate the "approximate equatorial circumference" of the earth.

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http://www.theworld.org/geo-quiz-challenge.php