Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)
14th Edition
ISBN: 9781337399920
Author: Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher: Cengage Learning
expand_more
expand_more
format_list_bulleted
Concept explainers
Textbook Question
Chapter 1, Problem 4P
A typical galaxy is shown on the first page of the Universe Bowl on the inside cover of the printed book. Express the number of stars in this typical galaxy in scientific notation.
Expert Solution & Answer
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionStudents have asked these similar questions
A parsec is an astronomical unit of distance where 1 parsec = 3.26 light years (1 light year equals the distance traveled by light in one year). If the speed of light is 186,000 mi/s, calculate the distance in meters of an object that travels 7.5 parsecs.
m
Another way of explaining a word is to enumerate the different parts of which it ismade: “X consists of Y and Z”. Define the following words in this way.Solar system, a telescope, galaxy, binary system, open cluster
The 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.
Chapter 1 Solutions
Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)
Ch. 1 - Prob. 1RQCh. 1 - What is the largest dimension of which you have...Ch. 1 - What is the difference between the Solar System,...Ch. 1 - What is the difference between the Moon and a...Ch. 1 - Why do astronomers now label Pluto a dwarf planet?Ch. 1 - Why are light-years more convenient than miles,...Ch. 1 - Why is it difficult to detect planets orbiting...Ch. 1 - Prob. 8RQCh. 1 - What is the difference between the Milky Way and...Ch. 1 - What are the Milky Way Galaxys spiral arms?
Ch. 1 - Prob. 11RQCh. 1 - Where are you in the Universe? If you had to give...Ch. 1 - Prob. 13RQCh. 1 - Prob. 14RQCh. 1 - Prob. 15RQCh. 1 - How do we know? How does the scientific method...Ch. 1 - The equatorial diameter of Earth is 7928 miles. If...Ch. 1 - The equatorial diameter of the Moon is 3476...Ch. 1 - One astronomical unit (AU) is about 1.5 108 km....Ch. 1 - A typical galaxy is shown on the first page of the...Ch. 1 - The time of the Cambrian explosion is listed on...Ch. 1 - Venus orbits 0.72 AU from the Sun. What is that...Ch. 1 - Light from the Sun takes 8 minutes to reach Earth....Ch. 1 - The Sun is almost 400 times farther from Earth...Ch. 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 - The nearest galaxy to our home galaxy is about 2.5...Ch. 1 - How many galaxies like our own would it take if...Ch. 1 - Arrange the following in order of increasing size:...Ch. 1 - Prob. 2SOPCh. 1 - The Sun is roughly 100 times the diameter of...Ch. 1 - Prob. 4SOPCh. 1 - Look at the center of Figure 14. Approximately...Ch. 1 - Look at Figure 1-6. How can you tell that Mercury...Ch. 1 - Prob. 3LTLCh. 1 - Look at Figure 1-9. Would you say that the...Ch. 1 - Of the objects listed here, which would be...Ch. 1 - Prob. 6LTL
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
Look at Figure 1-9. Would you say that the distribution of stars is uniform in this field of view, 17 ly across? Compare with Figure 1-10, 1700 ly across. Now look at Figure 1-12; would you say that the distribution of galaxies is uniform in this field of view, 17 million ly across? Compare with Figure 1-13, 1.7 billion ly across.
arrow_forward
The dwarf galaxy in Sagittarius is the one closest to the Milky Way, yet it was discovered only in 1994. Can you think of a reason it was not discovered earlier? (Hint: Think about what else is in its constellation.)
arrow_forward
The 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
Why are light-years more convenient than miles, kilometers, or AU for measuring the distances to stars and galaxies?
arrow_forward
Consider the following data on four stars: Which star would have the largest radius? Which star would have the smallest radius? Which star is the most common in our area of the Galaxy? Which star is the least common?
arrow_forward
Astronomers frequently say that “there are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on all the beaches on the earth”. Given that a typical grain of sand is about 0.5 – 1.0 mm in diameter, estimate the number of grains of sand on all the earth’s beaches. The diameter of the Earth is 12,742 km.
arrow_forward
Using a single dimensional equation, estimate the number of steps it would take a person with a step length of 2.65 ft to walk from the Earth to Alpha Centauri a distance of 4.37 light-years. The speed of light is 1.86282 x 105 miles/s. Number of Steps = Enter your answer in accordance to the question statement x 1017
arrow_forward
Orders of magnitude tell us how many zeros follow a number. How many orders of magnitude larger is the distance to the nearest star compared to the diameter of the Earth?
arrow_forward
How many light years are in one parsec? (Use at least two significant figures)
arrow_forward
arrow_back_ios
arrow_forward_ios
Recommended textbooks for you
Stars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399944
Author:Michael A. Seeds
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399920
Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Astronomy
Physics
ISBN:9781938168284
Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher:OpenStax
Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern ...
Physics
ISBN:9781337553292
Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Physics
ISBN:9781337553278
Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Stars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399944
Author:Michael A. Seeds
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)
Physics
ISBN:9781337399920
Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Astronomy
Physics
ISBN:9781938168284
Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher:OpenStax
Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern ...
Physics
ISBN:9781337553292
Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Physics
ISBN:9781337553278
Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
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