Astronomy
1st Edition
ISBN: 9781938168284
Author: Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher: OpenStax
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Chapter 7, Problem 22E
Earlier in this chapter, we modeled the solar system with Earth at a distance of about one city block from the Sun. If you were to make a model of the distances in the solar system to match your height, with the Sun at the top of your head and Pluto at your feet, which planet would be near your waist? How far down would the zone of the terrestrial planets reach?
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Thinking about the Scale of the Solar System As we discussed, the radius of the Earth is approximately 6370 km. The Sun, on the other hand, is approximately 700,000 km in radius and located, on average, one astronomical unit (1 au=1.5x108 km) from the Earth. Imagine that you stand near Mansueto Library, at the corner of 57th and Ellis. You hold a standard desk globe, which has a diameter of 12 inches, and you want to build a model of the Sun, Earth, and their separation that keeps all sizes and lengths in proportion to one another. a) How big would the Sun be in this scale model? Give your answer in feet and meters. b) The nearest star to the Solar System outside of the Sun is Proxima Centauri, which is approximately 4.2 light years away (a light year is the distance light travels in one year, or approximately 9.5x1012 km). Given the scale model outlined above, how far would a model Proxima Centauri be placed from you? Give your answer in miles and km.
Chapter 7 Solutions
Astronomy
Ch. 7 - Venus rotates backward and Uranus and Pluto spin...Ch. 7 - What is the difference between a differentiated...Ch. 7 - What does a planet need in order to retain an...Ch. 7 - Which type of planets have the most moons? Where...Ch. 7 - What is the difference between a meteor and a...Ch. 7 - Explain our ideas about why the terrestrial...Ch. 7 - Do all planetary systems look the same as our own?Ch. 7 - What is comparative planetology and why is it...Ch. 7 - What changed in our understanding of the Moon and...Ch. 7 - If Earth was to be hit by an extraterrestrial...
Ch. 7 - List some reasons that the study of the planets...Ch. 7 - Imagine you are a travel agent in the next...Ch. 7 - What characteristics do the worlds in our solar...Ch. 7 - How do terrestrial and giant planets differ? List...Ch. 7 - Why are there so many craters on the Moon and so...Ch. 7 - How do asteroids and comets differ?Ch. 7 - How and why is Earth’s Moon different from the...Ch. 7 - Where would you look for some “original”...Ch. 7 - Describe how we use radioactive elements and their...Ch. 7 - What was the solar nebula like? Why did the Sun...Ch. 7 - What can we learn about the formation of our solar...Ch. 7 - Earlier in this chapter, we modeled the solar...Ch. 7 - Seasons are a result of the inclination of a...Ch. 7 - Again using Appendix F, which planet(s) might you...Ch. 7 - Again using Appendix F, which planets might you...Ch. 7 - Using some of the astronomical resources in your...Ch. 7 - Explain why the planet Venus is differentiated,...Ch. 7 - Would you expect as many impact craters per unit...Ch. 7 - Using Appendix G, complete the following table...Ch. 7 - Calculate the density of Jupiter. Show your work....Ch. 7 - Calculate the density of Saturn. Show your work....Ch. 7 - What is the density of Jupiter’s moon Europa (see...Ch. 7 - Look at Appendix F and Appendix G and indicate the...Ch. 7 - Barnard’s Star, the second closest star to us, is...Ch. 7 - A radioactive nucleus has a half-life of 5108...
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