a) Imagine an astronaut visits Mars, a planet with a radius of nearly 3390 km. If the astronaut is 1.5 meters tall, approximately how far away would the horizon be located from the astronaut?

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals
Section: Chapter Questions
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Question
a) Imagine an astronaut visits Mars, a planet with a radius of nearly 3390
km. If the astronaut is 1.5 meters tall, approximately how far away would
the horizon be located from the astronaut?
b) We can round numbers to say light (and all electromagnetic radiation:
radio waves, infrared, ultraviolet, etc.) travels at approximately 3x108
m/s. At its closest approach, Mars is approximately 0.5 au from the
Earth. How long would it take for a radio signal sent from Earth to reach
Mars? Give your answer in minutes.
c) The Perseverance rover landed on Mars in early 2021. During travel to
Mars, the spacecraft carrying the rover cruised at a speed of nearly
25,000 miles per hour. At this speed, how long would it have taken for
the spacecraft to travel 0.5 au? Give your answer in days.
Possibly Useful Equations/Relations:
Distance = Speed x Time = v*t
Circle Circumference =
Diameter = 2 x Radius = 2*R
x Diameter = *D
Units and Abbreviations
m: meter (distance)
cm: centimeter (distance)
km: kilometer (distance)
AU: Astronomical Unit (distance)
s: second (time)
yr: year (time)
Relevant Numbers
Speed of Light = 3x108 m/s
1 lightyear = the distance light travels in one year = 9.5x1012 km
1 au = 150,000,000 km = 1.5x108 km
1 inch = 2.54 cm
1 m = 100 cm
1 m = 0.001 km
mile = 1.6 km
mile = 5280 feet
1 foot = 12 inches
Transcribed Image Text:a) Imagine an astronaut visits Mars, a planet with a radius of nearly 3390 km. If the astronaut is 1.5 meters tall, approximately how far away would the horizon be located from the astronaut? b) We can round numbers to say light (and all electromagnetic radiation: radio waves, infrared, ultraviolet, etc.) travels at approximately 3x108 m/s. At its closest approach, Mars is approximately 0.5 au from the Earth. How long would it take for a radio signal sent from Earth to reach Mars? Give your answer in minutes. c) The Perseverance rover landed on Mars in early 2021. During travel to Mars, the spacecraft carrying the rover cruised at a speed of nearly 25,000 miles per hour. At this speed, how long would it have taken for the spacecraft to travel 0.5 au? Give your answer in days. Possibly Useful Equations/Relations: Distance = Speed x Time = v*t Circle Circumference = Diameter = 2 x Radius = 2*R x Diameter = *D Units and Abbreviations m: meter (distance) cm: centimeter (distance) km: kilometer (distance) AU: Astronomical Unit (distance) s: second (time) yr: year (time) Relevant Numbers Speed of Light = 3x108 m/s 1 lightyear = the distance light travels in one year = 9.5x1012 km 1 au = 150,000,000 km = 1.5x108 km 1 inch = 2.54 cm 1 m = 100 cm 1 m = 0.001 km mile = 1.6 km mile = 5280 feet 1 foot = 12 inches
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