One method of measuring the distance from the Earth to a star is the parallax method. The idea behind computing this distance is to measure the angle formed between the Earth and the star at two different points in time. The optimal approach is to measure the angle when Earth is on opposite sides of the Sun, as shown in the figure. Earth at time 1 Sun Parallax Earth at time 2 Earth's orbit ..... (a) A star is 4.71 light-years from Earth. If 1 light-year is about 5.9 trillion miles, how many miles is the star from Earth? The star is about miles from Earth. (Simplify your answer. Use scientific notation.)

Algebra & Trigonometry with Analytic Geometry
13th Edition
ISBN:9781133382119
Author:Swokowski
Publisher:Swokowski
Chapter6: The Trigonometric Functions
Section6.2: Trigonometric Functions Of Angles
Problem 82E
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One method of measuring the distance from the Earth to a star is the parallax method. The idea behind
computing this distance is to measure the angle formed between the Earth and the star at two different points in
time. The optimal approach is to measure the angle when Earth is on opposite sides of the Sun, as shown in
the figure.
Earth at time 1
Star
Sun
Parallax
Earth at time 2
Earth's orbit
.....
(a) A star is 4.71 light-years from Earth. If 1 light-year is about 5.9 trillion miles, how many miles is the star from Earth?
The star is about
miles from Earth.
(Simplify your answer. Use scientific notation.)
Transcribed Image Text:One method of measuring the distance from the Earth to a star is the parallax method. The idea behind computing this distance is to measure the angle formed between the Earth and the star at two different points in time. The optimal approach is to measure the angle when Earth is on opposite sides of the Sun, as shown in the figure. Earth at time 1 Star Sun Parallax Earth at time 2 Earth's orbit ..... (a) A star is 4.71 light-years from Earth. If 1 light-year is about 5.9 trillion miles, how many miles is the star from Earth? The star is about miles from Earth. (Simplify your answer. Use scientific notation.)
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