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Stellar Distance Calculations and Methods

The document contains a series of astronomy questions and their solutions, including calculations for distances of stars in light-years and parsecs, the diameter of the Moon, and the displacement of a planet. Each question is followed by a step-by-step solution leading to the correct answer. The answers include conversions and applications of formulas related to parallax and angular measurements.

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202 views3 pages

Stellar Distance Calculations and Methods

The document contains a series of astronomy questions and their solutions, including calculations for distances of stars in light-years and parsecs, the diameter of the Moon, and the displacement of a planet. Each question is followed by a step-by-step solution leading to the correct answer. The answers include conversions and applications of formulas related to parallax and angular measurements.

Uploaded by

syedmujtaba334372
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Q1. A star is located at a distance of 4.2 light-years from the Earth. Calculate its distance in meters.

(1 light-year = 9.46 x 10**15 m)

A. 3.97 x 10**15 m

B. 3.97 x 10**16 m

C. 4.2 x 10**16 m

D. 9.46 x 10**16 m

Correct Answer: B

Step 1: Use the given conversion: 1 light-year = 9.46 x 10**15 m

Step 2: Multiply the distance in light-years by the conversion factor:

4.2 x 9.46 x 10**15 = 39.732 x 10**15

Step 3: Convert to scientific notation: 39.732 x 10**15 = 3.9732 x 10**16 m

Answer: B. 3.97 x 10**16 m

Q2. The parallax angle of a star observed from two opposite points of Earth's orbit is 0.76

arcseconds. Calculate the distance to the star in parsecs.

A. 0.76 parsec

B. 1.31 parsec

C. 3.26 parsec

D. 4.28 parsec

Correct Answer: B

Step 1: Use the formula: Distance (pc) = 1 / parallax angle (arcseconds)

Step 2: Distance = 1 / 0.76 = 1.3158 ~ 1.31 parsecs

Answer: B. 1.31 parsec

Q3. The angular diameter of the Moon is 0.5 degrees, and its distance from Earth is 3.84 x 10**5

km. Estimate the diameter of the Moon using the small angle approximation.

A. 1684 km
B. 2440 km

C. 3360 km

D. 4620 km

Correct Answer: C

Step 1: Convert the angle to radians: 0.5 degrees = (0.5 x pi / 180) ~ 0.0087 rad

Step 2: Use small angle formula: diameter = angle x distance

d = 0.0087 x 3.84 x 10**5 ~ 3340.8 km

Answer: C. 3360 km

Q4. Two stars A and B have a parallax of 0.2 arcsecond and 0.05 arcsecond respectively. What is

the ratio of distances D_B : D_A?

A. 1 : 4

B. 2 : 1

C. 4 : 1

D. 1 : 2

Correct Answer: C

Step 1: Distance is inversely proportional to parallax: D proportional to 1 / p

Step 2: Ratio = (1 / 0.05) / (1 / 0.2) = 0.2 / 0.05 = 4

Answer: C. 4 : 1

Q5. A planet is observed to move 1 arcsecond across the sky in 24 hours. If it is located 2 AU away,

find the linear displacement of the planet in km.

A. 725 km

B. 1,450 km

C. 2,896 km

D. 6,892 km

Correct Answer: C
Step 1: Convert arcsecond to radians: 1 arcsecond = 4.848 x 10**-6 rad

Step 2: Distance D = 2 AU = 2 x 1.496 x 10**8 = 2.992 x 10**8 km

Step 3: Displacement s = angle x distance = 4.848 x 10**-6 x 2.992 x 10**8 ~ 2896 km

Answer: C. 2,896 km

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