Given these values and the properties of the eye, from how far away can you see (detect) the Sun? Give your answer in units of 'parsecs' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsec) to 2 significant digits. A parsec is, roughly, the distance between our Sun and the closest star, Alpha Centauri.

College Physics
11th Edition
ISBN:9781305952300
Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Chapter1: Units, Trigonometry. And Vectors
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1CQ: Estimate the order of magnitude of the length, in meters, of each of the following; (a) a mouse, (b)...
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The next four questions use this description.
Our Sun has a peak emission wavelength of about 500 nm and a radius of about 700,000 km. Your
dark-adapted eye has a pupil diameter of about 7 mm and can detect light intensity down to about
1.5 x 10-11 W/m². Assume the emissivity of the Sun is equal to 1.
First, given these numbers, what is the surface temperature of the Sun in Kelvin to 3 significant
digits?
5,796
Question 2
What is the power output of the Sun in moles of watts? (in other words, take the number of watts
and divide it by Avogadro's number)
654
Question 3
Assuming that all of the Sun's power is given off as 500 nm photons*, how many photons are given
off by the Sun every second? Report your answer to the nearest power of 10 (e.g. if you got 7 x 1024,
give your answer as 25).
* -- which as we know / will know is not exactly true.
45
Question 4
Given these values and the properties of the eye, from how far away can you see (detect) the Sun?
Give your answer in units of 'parsecs' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsec) to 2 significant digits. A
parsec is, roughly, the distance between our Sun and the closest star, Alpha Centauri.
Transcribed Image Text:The next four questions use this description. Our Sun has a peak emission wavelength of about 500 nm and a radius of about 700,000 km. Your dark-adapted eye has a pupil diameter of about 7 mm and can detect light intensity down to about 1.5 x 10-11 W/m². Assume the emissivity of the Sun is equal to 1. First, given these numbers, what is the surface temperature of the Sun in Kelvin to 3 significant digits? 5,796 Question 2 What is the power output of the Sun in moles of watts? (in other words, take the number of watts and divide it by Avogadro's number) 654 Question 3 Assuming that all of the Sun's power is given off as 500 nm photons*, how many photons are given off by the Sun every second? Report your answer to the nearest power of 10 (e.g. if you got 7 x 1024, give your answer as 25). * -- which as we know / will know is not exactly true. 45 Question 4 Given these values and the properties of the eye, from how far away can you see (detect) the Sun? Give your answer in units of 'parsecs' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsec) to 2 significant digits. A parsec is, roughly, the distance between our Sun and the closest star, Alpha Centauri.
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