Description
The Lesson 6 Lab: Cosmic Distance Ladder introduces a few of the primary methods used by astronomers to determine astronomical distances. Parallax is introduced first, spectroscopic parallax, main sequence fitting, variable stars, and supernova are all discussed. You will see how some of these methods are used to measure the distances to nearby stars while others are used to determine distances to very distant galaxies. In Chapter 14, we apply these techniques to determine distances to other solar systems as we explore the planets we find there. This lab will also show us how early astronomers gaged the distances to planets here in our own solar system.
Getting started with Lesson 6 Lab: Cosmic Distance Ladder:
The Cosmic Distance Ladder Module consists of material on seven different distance determination techniques. Four of the techniques have external simulators in addition to the background pages. You are encouraged to work through the material for each technique before moving on to the next technique.
- First, select the following link and work through the background sections on Radar Ranging, Parallax, Distance Modulus, Main Sequence Fitting, Supernova, Cepheids, and Hubble’s Law under the ‘Main Content’ section at:
- Next, open the following link and familiarize yourself with the capabilities of the simulator through experimentation:
- You will also utilize the following simulators:
- After familiarizing yourself with the simulation interactive, follow instructions and answer questions in the Lesson 6 - Lab Cosmic Distance Ladder Worksheet.
Note: The Lab Simulators require Flash Player which is integrated into Windows 10 and work best with Internet Explorer (IE). To avoid technical issues IE is recommended for running the simulations. If you try another browser you will need to set up flash player options for that browser yourself. For example, if you are using Chrome, go to the upper left of the URL browser entry, select "Not Secure" then select "Allow" to give Chrome permission to open the simulator.
Unformatted Attachment Preview
Purchase answer to see full attachment
Explanation & Answer
Attached.
Name: Alvin M. Garcia-Almodovar
Lesson 6 Lab - The Cosmic Distance Ladder
Exercises
The Cosmic Distance Ladder Module consists of material on seven different distance
determination techniques. Four of the techniques have external simulators in addition to
the background pages. You are encouraged to work through the material for each technique
before moving on to the next technique.
Radar Ranging
Question 1: (2 points) Over the last 10 years, a large number of iceballs have been found
in the outer solar system out beyond Pluto. These objects are collectively known as the
Kuiper Belt. An amateur astronomer suggests using the radar ranging technique to learn
the rotation periods of Kuiper Belt Objects.
Do you think that this plan would be
successful? Explain why or why not?
You can bob the radar off them or sending a shuttle. This can send a radio sign back to
Earth. A radar signal is microwave electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic radiation is
light. Radar, in fact, goes at a speed of light. The distance traveled is equivalent to time
increased by speed. On the off chance, that we skip radar signal off to a planet and we
measure the time it takes the sign to go there and back, we can figure separation of the
planet.
Parallax
In addition to astronomical applications, parallax is used for measuring distances in many
other disciplines such as surveying. Open the Parallax Explorer where techniques very
similar to those used by surveyors are applied to the problem of finding the distance to a
boat out in the middle of a large lake by finding its position on a small-scale drawing of the
real world. The simulator consists of a map providing a scaled overhead view of the lake
and a road along the bottom edge where our surveyor represented by a red X may be
located. The surveyor is equipped with a theodolite (a combination of a small telescope and
a large protractor so that the angle of the telescope orientation can be precisely measured)
mounted on a tripod that can be moved along the road to establish a baseline. An
Observer’s View panel shows the appearance of the boat relative to trees on the far shore
through the theodolite.
Configure the simulator to preset A which allows us to see the location of the boat on the
map. (This is a helpful simplification to help us get started with this technique – normally
the main goal of the process is to learn the position of the boat on the scaled map.) Drag
the position of the surveyor around a...