Life in the Universe (4th Edition)
4th Edition
ISBN: 9780134089089
Author: Jeffrey O. Bennett, Seth Shostak
Publisher: PEARSON
expand_more
expand_more
format_list_bulleted
Concept explainers
Videos
Textbook Question
Chapter 13, Problem 7RQ
Discuss a few ways of reaching the stars (other than nuclear rockets) that are, at least in principle, within our current technological reach.
Expert Solution & Answer
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solution
Students have asked these similar questions
Most of the stars we can see with the unaided eye in our night sky are hundreds or even thousands of lightyears away from Earth. (The very closest ones are only a few dozen lightyears away, but most are much further.) The vast majority of stars in our galaxy are many tens of thousands of lightyears away. IF intelligent life existed on planets orbiting some of these stars – and that’s a huge IF! – comment on the likelihood and practicality of (a) visiting, (b) communicating with, or (c) verifying the existence of those life forms. Describe how you might go about approaching EACH of these three tasks, or if you think they are even possible. (One or two sentences for each part would be appropriate.)
Explain the Higher-Order Systems?
In a globular cluster, astronomers (someday) discover a star with the same mass as our Sun, but consisting entirely of hydrogen and helium. Is this star a good place to point our SETI antennas and search for radio signals from an advanced civilization?
Group of answer choices
No, because such a star (and any planets around it) would not have the heavier elements (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, etc.) that we believe are necessary to start life as we know it.
Yes, because globular clusters are among the closest star clusters to us, so that they would be easy to search for radio signals.
Yes, because we have already found radio signals from another civilization living near a star in a globular cluster.
No, because such a star would most likely not have a stable (main-sequence) stage that is long enough for a technological civilization to develop.
Yes, because such a star is probably old and a technological civilization will have had a long time to evolve and develop there.
Chapter 13 Solutions
Life in the Universe (4th Edition)
Ch. 13 - Prob. 1RQCh. 13 - How does the speed of light affect the possibility...Ch. 13 - Prob. 3RQCh. 13 - Prob. 4RQCh. 13 - What is the rocket equation used for? Based on the...Ch. 13 - Prob. 6RQCh. 13 - Discuss a few ways of reaching the stars (other...Ch. 13 - How would time dilation affect space travel at...Ch. 13 - Prob. 9RQCh. 13 - What is the Fermi paradox? What two seemingly...
Ch. 13 - Why does it seem that other civilizations, if they...Ch. 13 - What arc Von Neumann machines? How do they affect...Ch. 13 - Describe the coral model of galactic colonization....Ch. 13 - Briefly discuss possible motives for galactic...Ch. 13 - Summarize the three general categories of possible...Ch. 13 - Briefly discuss the profound implications of the...Ch. 13 - What known problems were solved when Einstein...Ch. 13 - Prob. 18RQCh. 13 - Besides the idea that you cannot reach the speed...Ch. 13 - Prob. 20RQCh. 13 - Prob. 21TYUCh. 13 - Prob. 22TYUCh. 13 - Each of the following describes some futuristic...Ch. 13 - Prob. 24TYUCh. 13 - Prob. 25TYUCh. 13 - Prob. 26TYUCh. 13 - Prob. 27TYUCh. 13 - Prob. 28TYUCh. 13 - Prob. 29TYUCh. 13 - Prob. 30TYUCh. 13 - Prob. 31TYUCh. 13 - The amount of energy that would be needed to...Ch. 13 - The rocket engines of our current spacecraft are...Ch. 13 - Suppose that a spaceship was launched in the year...Ch. 13 - Prob. 35TYUCh. 13 - Prob. 36TYUCh. 13 - Which of the following questions best represents...Ch. 13 - Prob. 38TYUCh. 13 - Which of the following is not relative in the...Ch. 13 - Prob. 40TYUCh. 13 - Prob. 41POSCh. 13 - Prob. 42POSCh. 13 - Prob. 44IFCh. 13 - What's Wrong with This Picture? Many science...Ch. 13 - Large Rockets. Suppose we built a rocket that...Ch. 13 - Prob. 47IFCh. 13 - Solution to the Fermi Paradox. Among the various...Ch. 13 - Prob. 50IFCh. 13 - Cruise Ship Energy. Suppose we have a spaceship...Ch. 13 - Prob. 52IFCh. 13 - The Multistage Rocket Equation. The rocket...Ch. 13 - Relativistic Time Dilation. Use the time dilation...Ch. 13 - Testing Relativity. A + meson produced at rest has...Ch. 13 - Prob. 57IFCh. 13 - Prob. 58IFCh. 13 - Prob. 59IFCh. 13 - Prob. 60IFCh. 13 - The Turning Point. Discuss the idea that the...
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
Find more solutions based on key concepts
The magnitude of the magnetic field the electron produces at the nucleus of the atom.
Physics (5th Edition)
22. A rock is tossed straight up from ground level with a speed of 20 m/s. When it returns, it falls into a hol...
Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach, Vol. 1 (Chs 1-21) (4th Edition)
11.22 BIO A Good Workout. You are doing exercises on a Nautilus machine in a gym to strengthen your deltoid (sh...
University Physics with Modern Physics (14th Edition)
3. What is free-fall, and why does it make you weightless? Briefly describe why astronauts are weightless in th...
The Cosmic Perspective
23. A –10 nC charge is located at the origin.
a. What are the strengths of the electric fields at the positions...
College Physics: A Strategic Approach (3rd Edition)
Knowledge Booster
Learn more about
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
- Show that: how this come about, and also include the interpretation of how you got therearrow_forwardThere is only one part to this question and I need to know the particles per second. Thank you!!arrow_forwardSuppose astronomers discover a radio message from a civilization whose planet orbits a star 35 lightyears away. Their message encourages us to send a radio answer, which we decide to do. Suppose our governing bodies take 2 years to decide whether and how to answer. When our answer arrives there, their governing bodies also take two of our years to frame an answer to us. How long after we get their first message can we hope to get their reply to ours? (A question for further thinking: Once communication gets going, should we continue to wait for a reply before we send the next message?)arrow_forward
- Radio astronomy involves wavelengths much longer than those of visible light, and many orbiting observatories have probed the universe for radiation of very short wavelengths. What sorts of objects and physical conditions would you expect to be associated with emission of radiation at very long and very short wavelengths? (Select all that apply.) very long wavelengths cold cold gas cosmic background radiation nuclear reactions ++ Opulsars solar corona very high-energy processes very short wavelengths cold gas cosmic background radiation nuclear reactions pulsars solar corona very high-energy processesarrow_forwardChoose the BEST answer to the following: If a star that is 20 light-years from Earth explodes, gravitational waves from the explosion would reach Earth in (a) less than 20 years. (b) 20 years. (c) more than 20 years. (d) None of these.arrow_forwardneed some help on this one!arrow_forward
- In what ways did the astronomical observations of Galileo support a heliocentric cosmology? Describe in detail at least two specific examples.arrow_forwardDo binary stars (double-star systems that orbit about a common center of mass) radiate gravitational waves? Why or why not?arrow_forwardAs a consequence of conservation of ............., the 2nd Law of Planetary Motion also implies that a planet will move ............ when farther away from its host star.arrow_forward
arrow_back_ios
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
arrow_forward_ios
Recommended textbooks for you
AstronomyPhysicsISBN:9781938168284Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. WolffPublisher:OpenStax
Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399920Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage Learning
Stars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399944Author:Michael A. SeedsPublisher:Cengage Learning
An Introduction to Physical SciencePhysicsISBN:9781305079137Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar TorresPublisher:Cengage Learning
Astronomy
Physics
ISBN:9781938168284
Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher:OpenStax
Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399920
Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Stars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399944
Author:Michael A. Seeds
Publisher:Cengage Learning
An Introduction to Physical Science
Physics
ISBN:9781305079137
Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar Torres
Publisher:Cengage Learning
General Relativity: The Curvature of Spacetime; Author: Professor Dave Explains;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7V3koyL7Mc;License: Standard YouTube License, CC-BY