Stars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)
10th Edition
ISBN: 9781337399944
Author: Michael A. Seeds
Publisher: Cengage Learning
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Textbook Question
Chapter 1, Problem 6RQ
Why are light-years more convenient than miles, kilometers, or AU for measuring the distances to stars and galaxies?
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Calculate the number of miles in a light-year, using 1.86 105 mi/s as the speed of light. (Hint: The number of seconds in a year, 365 days, will be useful.) Answer in mi/y
Recall that Hubble’s Law is given by V=HR; this means that H has units of inverse seconds (1/sec). A convenient laboratory set of units is to give H in km per sec per megaparsec. A parsec is 3.26 light years and the speed of light is 3 X 105 km/sec. Use 3.156 X 107 sec/yr. The first data off the then new Hubble Space telescope suggested a value of H equal to 108 km per sec per megaparsec. What is H in inverse seconds? Hint divide by the number of km in a megaparsec.
What is the number of miles in a light-year, using (see picture) mi/s as the speed of light?
I know the number of seconds in a year and 365 days will help but confused on how to put it in the equation.
Chapter 1 Solutions
Stars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)
Ch. 1 - Prob. 1RQCh. 1 - Prob. 2RQCh. 1 - Prob. 3RQCh. 1 - What is the difference between the Moon and a...Ch. 1 - Prob. 5RQCh. 1 - Why are light-years more convenient than miles,...Ch. 1 - Prob. 7RQCh. 1 - Prob. 8RQCh. 1 - Prob. 9RQCh. 1 - Prob. 10RQ
Ch. 1 - What are the largest known structures in the...Ch. 1 - Prob. 12RQCh. 1 - Prob. 13RQCh. 1 - Prob. 14RQCh. 1 - Prob. 15RQCh. 1 - Prob. 16RQCh. 1 - Prob. 1PCh. 1 - The equatorial diameter of the Moon is 3476...Ch. 1 - Prob. 3PCh. 1 - A typical galaxy is shown on the first page of the...Ch. 1 - Prob. 5PCh. 1 - Prob. 6PCh. 1 - Prob. 7PCh. 1 - Prob. 8PCh. 1 - If the speed of light is 3.0 105 km/s, how many...Ch. 1 - Prob. 10PCh. 1 - How long does it take light to cross the diameter...Ch. 1 - Prob. 12PCh. 1 - Prob. 13PCh. 1 - Prob. 1SPCh. 1 - Prob. 2SPCh. 1 - Prob. 3SPCh. 1 - Prob. 4SPCh. 1 - Prob. 1LLCh. 1 - Prob. 2LLCh. 1 - Prob. 3LLCh. 1 - Prob. 4LLCh. 1 - Prob. 5LLCh. 1 - Prob. 6LL
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Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Similar questions
- The distance from the Sun to the nearest star is about 4 1016 m. The Milky Way galaxy (Fig. P1.31) is roughly a disk of diameter 1021 in and thickness 1019 m. Find the order of magnitude of the number of stars in the Milky Way. Assume the distance between the Sun and our nearest neighbor is typical. Figure P1.31 The Milky Way galaxy.arrow_forwardIf the speed of light is 3.0 × 105 km/s, how many kilometers are in a light-year? How many meters? (Hint: First look up or calculate how many seconds are in a year.)arrow_forwardA light-year is the distance that light can travel in one year. Similarly, we can define a light-second, light-day, etc. as the distance that light can travel in other time intervals. Calculate the distance represented by each of the following: (Assume that the speed of light is 3 x 10^8m/s) 5 light-minutes 6 light-days 6 light-days, but this time answer in miles (enter just the number with no units)arrow_forward
- A light year (LY) is the distance that light travels in one year. 1 LY = 9.46x1015 m. Suppose we have detected a planet that orbits a star that is 104 light years away. How many millions of years would it take us to get there if we used a modern rocket with a maximum speed of 20.0 km/s (about 45,000 mph)? Assume 3 sig figs.arrow_forwardCalculate the number of miles in a light-year, using 1.86 105 mi/s as the speed of light. (Hint: The number of seconds in a year, 365 days, will be useful.) Incorrect: Your answer is incorrect. mi/yarrow_forwardA particular star is 4.5 × 1014 km away from Earth. What is this distance in light-years (ly)?arrow_forward
- Calculate the length of one light-year (ca), in metres.arrow_forwardEarth is about 150 million kilometers from the Sun (1 Astronomical Unit, or AU), and the apparent brightness of the Sun in our sky is about 1300 watts/m^2. Using these two facts and the inverse square law for light, determine the apparent brightness that we would measure for the Sun if we were located at the following positions. a) At the orbit of Venus (67 million km from the Sun). b) At the orbit of Jupiter (780 million km from the Sun). c) At the mean distance of Pluto (40 Astronomical Units).arrow_forwardHow about 11518 light-years? how many sig figs are there?arrow_forward
- The nearest star to our sun is Proxima Centauri, at a distance of 4.3 light-years from the Sun. A light-year is the distance that light travels in one year (365 days). How far away, in kilometers, is Proxima Centauri from the Sun?Express your answer using two significant figures.arrow_forwardUsing a single dimensional equation, estimate the number of steps it would take a person with a step length of 2.65 ft to walk from the Earth to Alpha Centauri a distance of 4.37 light-years. The speed of light is 1.86282 x 105 miles/s. Number of Steps = Enter your answer in accordance to the question statement x 1017arrow_forwardOn a 1-to-10^19 scale our Milky Way galaxy would just about fit on a soccer field. On this scale, how far is the distance from the sun to alpha centauri (one of the closest stars to the sun, at a distance of 4.4 light years).arrow_forward
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