NAME: SECTION: LABORATORY e ASSIGNMENT #1 The Scale of Our Universe and Graphing Exercise OBJECTIVE: In this laboratory exercise you will develop a sense about the sizes of various objects and their typical distances. 1. View \"Power of Ten\" Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0 To gain a sense of how large the observable universe is, please view the above video. This film transports us from the outer edges of the universe to dimensions inside the atom. According to this video, what are the two extreme distance limits of our universe (i.c., the maximum and minimum distances in meters)? (a) Express your answers in scientific notation: : (b) Express answers using appropriate unit prefixes: : 2. Distances on an Atomic and Cosmic Scale Go to: http://scaleofuniverse.com/ Explore the different scales of universe by sliding the bar. When you want to measure the width of a window frame or the height of your growing child, it helps to have a good meter stick. But on the atomic scale or on a cosmic scale, other units may be more convenient. An angstrom (A ) is a unit of length used to measure small things such as the wavelengths of light, atoms, and molecules. Ten billion angstroms equal 1 meter. It is named for the 19th-century Swedish physicist Anders Jonas Angstrom. Since a typical atom is about 1 angstrom across, when we say something is so many angstroms across, it gives a feel for how many atoms that distance represents. ) Complete the following table. Show a representative calculation. Typical \"Object\" g RYU T STPIA ) Angstrom Atom Wavelength of red light 7107 Wiavelength of x-rays 5x10"2 Thickness of DNA molecule Largest virus Sample calculation for It is also nice to have convenient units to investigate distances in our universe. Suppose someone asks you how far it is from the Earth to the Sun. You could answer 93 x 10 miles (150 x 10 km), but using units of miles and kilometers becomes cumbersome when dealing with huge distances in the astronomical realm. Thus it makes sense to switch to a much more reasonable unit; a good choice is the astronomical unit (AU), where 1 AU is defined as the average EarthSun distance. Therefore, the distance to Pluto becomes 39 AU, which replaces an uncomfortably large number. Alternatively we can apply the measure of distance we are most used to. Suppose someone asks how far is Wayne from New York. You might reply that it is \"about an hour.\" Clearly what you mean is that the distance from Wayne to New York can be covered by a car in 1 hour or that the distance is \"1 car hour.\" Similarly suppose we want to describe the distance to the moon using a rocket that travels at a speed of 40,000 km/h. In this case the moon would be a \"2 rocket-day\" away. To measure distances outside of our solar system, it is convenient to use the \"ultimate speed limit,\" the speed of light. The distance between the Sun and the Earth can now be described as \"8 light-minutes\" away, or the distance to the nearest star Proxima Centauri is now \"4.23 light-years\" away. Use your text or other sources to complete the following table. Light travel times may be given in hours, days, or years-w]lichevcr allows the use of the most comfortable numbers. Show a rr:prcscntativc calculation. Distance from Earth (AU) Object Light Travel Time 8 light-minutes Proxima Centauri 4.23 light-years ' Polaris Andromeda Galaxy A Sample calculation for 3. Volume of Celestial Bodies Many celestial bodies such as the Earth and the Sun are spherical; hence, their volumes V are given by the equation V= (4/3)aR' where R is the sphere radius. Suppose we want to know how many \"Earths\" can fit into the Sun. We can answer this question by forming the volume ratio of the Sun to the Earththat is, VN =R R P sin earth Use your text to complete the following table. Show representative calculation. Radius (m) Mars Jupiter Sun How many Earths would fit into Jupiter? How many Earths would fit into the Sun? How many Venuses would fit into the Earth