# Homework Help: Astronomy - Distance with different scale factors

1. Jul 8, 2011

### tosv

The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Expansion of the universe is described by the scale factor R(t), where t is the time after the Big Bang. For a flat universe the scale factor is today
$R(t)=C_{1}\cdot t^{\frac{2}{3}}$

When the Universe was radiation dominated, for t <200,000 years, the scale factor was
$R(t)=C_{2}\cdot \sqrt{t}$

Today, about 12 billion years after the Big Bang, we measure the distance to another superhop to 1 billion light years. How big would the distance between these sites one year after the Big Bang, if we assume that we live in a flat universe.

The attempt at a solution
I express the distance in meters
$R(t)=9.461\cdot 10^{24}\, m$

Then I express the time in seconds
$t=3.787\cdot 10^{17}\, s$

I found that the constant is
$C_{1}=1.8075\cdot 10^{13}$

I need to know the constant $C_{2}$, but I'm not sure how I'll be able to calculate it.

I have tested just to put $C_{1}=C_{2}$, but the result for the distance was wrong. I then realized that the two constants have different units.

Does anyone have a suggestion how I may proceed?

2. Jul 10, 2011

### Redbelly98

Staff Emeritus
For t = 200,000 years, both expressions for R(t) should give the same result.

To make your life easier, consider using units of years and light-years rather than seconds and meters.

3. Jul 10, 2011

### tosv

Thanks for your reply, now I was able to solve the problem.