Chapter 33, Problem 4TE

To determine

The time required by the Big dipper to change from one position to the other.

Answer to Problem 4TE

The time required by the big dipper to change from one position to the other is 12 hours.

Explanation of Solution

The imaginary sphere in which stars are attached is the celestial sphere, which helps in assuming the diurnal motion of the stars that is a sphere around the Earth is rotating about an axis. This diurnal motion of the stars occurs due to the rotation of the Earth in the given direction west to east in every twenty-four hours.

The stars appear to move east to west direction due to the diurnal motion of the stars. The consequence of this motion is that the constellation changes the apparent shape. The star which is situated at the topmost position now is at the lowermost position, which occurs exactly after 12 hours.

Thus, the big dipper, which is which appears right side up, turns to upside-down exactly after 12 hours.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the time required by the big dipper to change from one position to the other is 12 hours.