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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- Calculate the number of miles in a light year using (see picture for the equation) mi/s as the speed. Hint: The number of seconds in a year,365days,will be useful.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_forwardThe 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_forward
- If 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_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_forwardCalculate the length of one light-year (ca), in metres.arrow_forward
- A particular star is 4.5 × 1014 km away from Earth. What is this distance in light-years (ly)?arrow_forwardHow about 11518 light-years? how many sig figs are there?arrow_forwardThe 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_forward
- On 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_forwardhelpparrow_forwardLight travels at 2.9979 x 10^10 cm/s. How far would light travel in a year? (USE SYMBOL ^ FOR EXPONENT. ROUND OFF ANSWER TO FOUR DECIMAL PLACES)arrow_forward
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