StudyXY
RegisterLog in

Applications of Newton's Laws and Astronomical Units in Understanding Motion and Distance

An application of Newton's laws and astronomical units to understand motion and distance.

Elizabeth Chen
Contributor
4.8
51
5 months ago
Preview (2 of 3 Pages)
100%
Purchase to unlock

Page 1

Applications of Newton's Laws and Astronomical Units in Understanding Motion and Distance - Page 1 preview image

Loading page image...

1Applications of Newton's Laws and Astronomical Units inUnderstanding Motion and DistanceExplain how a light-year is a unit of distance. Be sure to include the definition of a light-year in your explanation.Answer:-Light year is a unit used in astronomical calculations and is equivalent to thedistance that light travels in one year which is close to 9.4607*10^12km(C. W. Allen(1973))(approximately).The requirement of using light year in astronomical calculations arerequired since there the usage of well known distance measuring unit like kilometer willnot work well as the it is too small to be of practical use considering the distance to thenext closest galaxy that is the Andromeda Galaxy is 21 quintillion km. That’snumerically 21,000,000,000,000,000,000 km-this is truly a large number to rememberand write and hard to interpret quickly so astronomers have started the usage of light yearas a unit for measuring distance.This in our solarsystemoften referred to as the AstronomicalUnit (AU).The AU is usedto define the average distance between the Sun and the Earth. The distance approximatelybecomes equal to 150 million km(Astronomical Constants page K6). As part ofcomparison, it can be said that the Mercuryis about 1/3 rd of an AU from the Sun. Although, AU is quite big as a unit to measureastronomical distance but not so big when we consider other objects lying outside of oursolar system.In those cases parsec is used which is equal to 3.3 light years.Referenceshttp://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question19.htmlhttp://marshallbrain.com/science/lightyear.htmAstronomical Constantspage K6 of theAstronomical Almanac.

Page 2

Applications of Newton's Laws and Astronomical Units in Understanding Motion and Distance - Page 2 preview image

Loading page image...

Preview Mode

This document has 3 pages. Sign in to access the full document!

Study Now!

XY-Copilot AI
Unlimited Access
Secure Payment
Instant Access
24/7 Support
Document Chat

Document Details

Subject
Physics

Related Documents

View all
Class Notes

Exploring Light Intensity Through Polarizers

Explore light intensity through linear polarizers at angles from 0° to 90°. Measure transmitted light with lOLab sensor, test repeatability with two trials per angle, and analyze results using Malus' Law.

Class Notes

IPL Lab Report

Summary of measurement errors, formulas for cylinder volume and density, and concepts of background radiation, standard deviation, standard error. Includes experiments measuring metal densities, radiation counts with error analysis.

Solved Assignments

Distance Time Velocity Gizmo Handout-2

Interactive exploration comparing distance-time and velocity-time graphs. Students analyze motion, displacement, and speed using visual data to understand differences between distance traveled and change in position.

Solved Assignments

Energy Skate Park Activity

Interactive Energy Skate Park simulation worksheet where students analyze kinetic, potential, and thermal energy at various track points by predicting, testing, and comparing energy transformations with/without friction or mass changes.

Solved Assignments

Exploring Density Measuring Mass and Volume of Obj

Explore how objects float or sink by measuring mass and volume to find density. Floating objects often have lower density regardless of shape; sinking ones are denser and heavier.

Solved Assignments

Student Exploration Distance Time Graphs

Explore distance-time graphs and runner motion with interactive Gizmo. Manipulate points to see how position changes over time, understand speed, and compare runners’ performance. Perfect for learning basic physics concepts visually and actively.

Certification Guides

Barron's Physics Practice Plus: 400+ Online Questions and Quick Study Review (2022)

Prepare confidently with Barron's Physics Practice Plus: 400+ Online Questions and Quick Study Review (2022), offering structured revision tests to reinforce key concepts.

Exam Guides

Test Bank for Conceptual Integrated Science, 3rd Edition

Don't leave anything to chance�use Test Bank for Conceptual Integrated Science, 3rd Edition to prepare for your exam with confidence.

Exam Guides

College Physics: A Strategic Approach, 4th Edition Test Bank

Perfect your exam skills with College Physics: A Strategic Approach, 4th Edition Test Bank, which features a range of MCQs and in-depth solutions.

Practice Problems

Practical Applications Of Density Calculations In Everyday Scenarios

Download this Homework Solution for real-world applications of density.