- #1
warfreak131
- 188
- 0
Homework Statement
In class, we use the CGS system, so I do all my work in cgs units and then convert at the end.
The mean distance of Mars from the sun is 2.3 * 10^13cm
1 arcsecond = (1/60) of (1/60) of 1 degree, = 1/3600th degree
Let d = distance of 1 parsec
The Attempt at a Solution
[tex] \tan(1 sec) = \frac{2.3 \cdot 10^{13} cm}{d}[/tex]
[tex]d=\frac{2.3{\cdot}10^{13} cm}{Tan(\frac{1}{3600})}[/tex]
[tex]d=4.7{\cdot}10^{18} cm{\cdot}\frac{1 m}{100 cm}{\cdot}\frac{1 km}{1000 m}{\cdot}\frac{1 LY}{9.46{\cdot}10^{12} km}[/tex]
[tex]d=4.7{\cdot}10^{18}{\cdot}\frac{1 LY}{9.46{\cdot}10^{12}}[/tex]
[tex]d=4.97 LY[/tex]
Is this correct?
Last edited by a moderator: