Conceptual Physics (12th Edition)
12th Edition
ISBN: 9780321909107
Author: Paul G. Hewitt
Publisher: PEARSON
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Textbook Question
Chapter 1, Problem 7RCQ
Why did Aristarchus choose the time of a half Moon to make his measurements for calculating the Earth-Sun distance?
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"Aristarchus' Method of Determining the Distance to the Sun"
At the first quarter of the Moon (at position Q), the angle (EQS) equals 90° (see the
sketch below). Modern observations show that the interval from new Moon (near position
N) to first quarter (at Q) is 35 minutes shorter than that from first quarter to full Moon
(near position F). Given that the lunar synodic period (the interval between two identical
lunar phases) is 29 days and 12.73 hours, estimate the Earth-Sun distance (ES) in terms of
the Earth-Moon distance.
F/
E
"Aristarchus' Method of Determining the Distance to the Sun"
At the first quarter of the Moon (at position Q), the angle (EQS) equals 90° (see the
sketch below). Modern observations show that the interval from new Moon (near position
N) to first quarter (at Q) is 35 minutes shorter than that from first quarter to full Moon
(near position F). Given that the lunar synodic period (the interval between two identical
lunar phases) is 29 days and 12.73 hours, estimate the Earth-Sun distance (ES) in terms of
the Earth-Moon distance.
Suppose, we recently discovered a new planet named Concordia. If for 15 degrees
difference, the distance between Cansae City and and Cantabrigia City would have
been 6050 stadia. According to Erasthosthenes' calculation, what would have been
the circumference of Concordia?
5.45E5 stadia
2.45E5 stadia
4.45E5 stadia
1.45E5 stadia
3.45E5 stadia
Chapter 1 Solutions
Conceptual Physics (12th Edition)
Ch. 1 - Prob. 1RCQCh. 1 - Prob. 2RCQCh. 1 - When the Sun was directly overhead in Syene, why...Ch. 1 - Earth, like everything else illuminated by the...Ch. 1 - How does the Moon's diameter compare with the...Ch. 1 - Prob. 6RCQCh. 1 - Why did Aristarchus choose the time of a half Moon...Ch. 1 - What are the circular spots of light seen on the...Ch. 1 - What is the role of equations in this book?Ch. 1 - Outline some steps of the scientific method.
Ch. 1 - Distinguish among a scientific fact, a hypothesis,...Ch. 1 - In daily life, people are often praised for...Ch. 1 - What is the test for whether a hypothesis is...Ch. 1 - Prob. 14RCQCh. 1 - What test can you perform to increase the chance...Ch. 1 - Why are students of the arts encouraged to learn...Ch. 1 - Must people choose between science and religion?Ch. 1 - Psychological comfort is a benefit of having solid...Ch. 1 - Clearly distinguish between science and...Ch. 1 - Why is physics considered to be the basic science?Ch. 1 - Poke a hole in a piece of cardboard and hold the...Ch. 1 - Choose a particular day in the very near...Ch. 1 - What is the penalty for scientific fraud in the...Ch. 1 - Which of the following are scientific hypotheses?...Ch. 1 - Prob. 25RCQCh. 1 - Prob. 26RCQCh. 1 - What is probably being misunderstood by a person...Ch. 1 - The shadow cast by a vertical pillar in Alexandria...Ch. 1 - If Earth were smaller than it is, but the...Ch. 1 - The great philosopher and mathematician Bertrand...Ch. 1 - Bertrand Russell wrote, u I think we must retain...Ch. 1 - Your favorite young relative is wondering whether...
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- On the evening of an autumnal equinox day Siddhant noticed that Mars was exactly along the north-south meridian in his sky at the exact moment when the sun was setting. In other words, the Sun and Mars subtended an angle of exactly 90° as measured from the Earth. If the orbital radius of Mars is 1.52 au, What will be the approximate rise time of the mars on the next autumnal equinox day?arrow_forwardWhich of the following was used by Aristotle to prove the shape of the Earth?Which of the following refers to the science of studying the outer space and other celestial objects?Which of the following refers to the sun-centered model of the universe?Which of the following refers to the earth-centered model of the universe?Which of the following Astronomer was sentenced to death by church because of his opposing views and theories about the center of the universe?Which of the following was proposed by Ptolemy to fix the anomalies inAristotelian model of the universe?Which of the following models of the universe where the celestial planets revolve around the sun while the sun revolves around the earth?Which of the following Astronomers observed that Mars does not move incircles?Which of the following refers to the term where other celestial bodies/objects moves around the earth in a spherical manner?Which of the following terms refer to the part Pythagorean universe where the Greek Gods…arrow_forwardHow would Eratosthenes’s estimate have been different if the sun were actually closer to Earth?arrow_forward
- If G = 6.674 ⨉ 10 −11m3/kg/s 2and M Earth= 5.972 ⨉ 10 24kg and the sidereal period of the Earth is 27.32 days, then, from Kepler’s third law in #4, what is the expected orbital distance of the Moon?arrow_forwardTycho Brahe’s observations of the stars and planets were accurate to about 1 arc minute. To what distance does this angle correspond at the distance of (a) the Moon; (b) the Sun; and (c) Saturn (at closest approach)?arrow_forwardWhich of the following is not a contributing factor in causing eclipses? (17.2) (a) the rotation of the Earth about its axis (b) the inclination of the Moons orbit (c) the varying distance between the Earth and the Moon (d) the varying distance between the Earth and the Sunarrow_forward
- Why did Ptolemy have to introduce multiple circles of motion for the planets instead of a single, simple circle to represent the planet’s motion around the Sun?arrow_forwardPretend the Moons orbit around Earth is a perfect circle. How long does it take in units of days for the Moon to move 90 degrees relative to the stars? Is this number dependent on the synodic period or the sidereal period?arrow_forwardWhat two factors made it difficult, at first, for astronomers to choose between the Copernican heliocentric model and the Ptolemaic geocentric model?arrow_forward
- How did Aristotle deduce that the Sun is farther away from Earth than the Moon?arrow_forwardWhy did Copernicus want to develop a completely new system for predicting planetary positions? Provide two reasons.arrow_forwardComet Halley (Fig. P11.21) approaches the Sun to within 0.570 AU, and its orbital period is 75.6 yr. (AU is the symbol for astronomical unit, where 1 AU = 1.50 1011 m is the mean EarthSun distance.) How far from the Sun will Halleys comet travel before it starts its return journey?arrow_forward
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