Set 23 Jan 2008.
Due date Wednesday 30 Jan 2008 at 11 am.
You should know that the speed of light, c = 300,000 km/sec
The equation for distance, d, is: d = v × t, where d is the distance, v is the speed and t is the time.
Make sure your units are consistent and make sense.
Show your work, you will not get credit for simply writing down an answer.
Assume that a person can walk at 5 km/hour. For eight hours per day.
Assume that driving in a car, you can travel 100 km/hour for twelve hours per day.
Assume that flying in an airplane you can travel at 1000 km/hour without stopping to rest.
Assume that in a rocket you can travel at 30 km/sec, without stopping for rest!
- If you live a mile from campus, how much time should you leave before class if you decide to walk?
If you drive to Washington DC, the distance is just under 200 miles. How long does it take to drive there?
If you had to walk instead, how long would it take you?
It is about 4000 km from State College to San Francisco.
How long would it take you to walk there?
How long to fly, and how long to drive (ignore take off, landing, runway holds and delays of inbound aircraft from Philly due to weather or maintenance)?
How long would it take in a rocket, at the speed indicated above?
- The Moon is about 300,000 km away.
How long would it take to walk to the Moon? How long to fly?
What is the travel time in our rocket?
The Sun is one AU (150 million km) away.
Similarly, how long to walk, fly or take a rocket to get to the Sun? Give your answer in sensible units.
- The nearest star is about 4 lightyears away.
How long would it take to walk to the nearest star? How long to fly?
What is the travel time in our rocket?
The center of the Milky Way is about 24,000 light years away.
How long would it take to walk to the center of the Milky Way? How long to fly?
What is the travel time in our rocket?
Comment.
- Go to the Galaxy Crash website at Case Westerm
Pick three different choices of parameters for galaxies to collide and run the the applet simulation.
Print out the outcome of the collision and briefly discuss the effects of the different choices.
Comment.
- Read the short story Fresco by Alastair Reynolds.
In your own words, summarise the plot and conclusion.
Briefly discuss your personal impression of the story and what it tells you.
Last updated 01/08
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