Passage:
For centuries, early mariners relied on the astrolabe to navigate the open seas. The astrolabe allowed sailors to determine latitude by measuring the angle of a celestial body above the horizon. However, its accuracy was severely compromised by the motion of a pitching ship, as the device relied on gravity to align its vertical scale. In contrast, the marine sextant, introduced in the eighteenth century, resolved this instability. By utilizing a system of mirrors to bring the image of a star into alignment with the horizon, the sextant enabled navigators to measure angles directly between two points. Consequently, while the astrolabe required a stable platform to maintain its vertical orientation, the sextant functioned independently of gravity, allowing precise readings even on turbulent waters.
Based on the passage, how did the operational requirements of the astrolabe differ from those of the marine sextant?
- The astrolabe required a stable platform to align its gravity-dependent scale, whereas the sextant functioned independently of gravity.Answer
- BThe astrolabe utilized a system of mirrors to align stars with the horizon, whereas the sextant relied on a physical pendulum.
- CThe astrolabe was introduced in the eighteenth century for use on turbulent waters, whereas the sextant was developed centuries earlier.
- DThe astrolabe was used to determine the ship's latitude, whereas the sextant was used exclusively to measure local time.