Conversion of units (tangential velocity)

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
2 replies · 5K views
rbnphlp
Messages
53
Reaction score
0
This should be very easy but I can't see what I am doing wrong...

[tex]V_t=\mu .d[/tex] where vt = tangential speed (in km/s)
d = distance (in km)
mu(radian/sec)

Now by converting I should get

[tex]V_t=4.74\mu .d[/tex]
vt = tangential speed (in km/s)
d = distance (in parsec)
mu(arcsec/yr)

but according to my working ,
[tex]V_t=\frac{206264\times 365 \times 24 \times 3600}{3.086 \times 10^{13}}[/tex]

which comes to be [tex]V_t=.21\mu .d[/tex]

I know inverting the above fractions will lead me to the answer but I can't see why ?:(

1parsec=3.086*10^13 km
1 radian=206264 arcsec

Thanks ..
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
It would help if you described the original problem.
 
If you were to attach your conversion units to the numbers you have, (ie 365 day/yr) then do all of the algebra in units I think you will find your problem.

Note that after completing the conversion the units of the resulting velocity will NOT be in km/s.