
1 parsec is equal to
A. 2.3 light years
B. 3.3 light years
C. 4.3 light years
D. 4.3 light years
Answer
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Hint: Parsecond and light years are units of length. The distances between planets and stars in outer space are measured in these units. One parsec is the distance, which subtends a parallax angle of one arcsecond. One light year the distance that light travels in one year.
Formula used:
Complete step by step answer:
Parsec is a unit of length. 1 parsec is a huge distance, due to which the unit is used in the measure of large distances in the study of astronomy. Parsec is derived using trigonometry and parallax. One parsec is the distance which subtends a parallax angle of one arcsecond.
The radius of earth’s orbit (mean distance between earth and sun) is equal to one astronomical unit (AU). One AU is equal to 150 million kilometres, which is equal to metres.
The parallax angle is denoted by .
The parallax angle in terms of one AU and the distance (d) that subtends the parallax angle is given as,
. …….. (i).
Since the parallax angle is very much small, is approximately equal to .
i.e. . ……… (ii).
From equations (i) and (ii) we get that,
.
We can write the above equation as . …….. (iii).
Now, by the definition of one parsec, one parsec is the value of d when is equal to one arcsecond.
One arcsecond is equal to degrees. We know that is equal to .
Therefore, .
Substitute the value of 1 AU and in equation (iii).
Therefore, . ………(1)
Therefore, the value of one parsec in metres is equal to metres.
To convert 1 parsec to light years, first, let us convert 1 light years into metres.
One light year is the distance that light travels in one year. We know that light travels about metres per second.
.
So, by using the formula , the total distance (D) that light travels in one year is
------ (2).
Therefore, one light year is approximately equal to .
To convert one parsec to light years, simply divide (1) by (2).
i.e.
Hence, the correct option is B.
Note: Units like parsec and light years are very large units of length. These units cannot be used in our day-to-day life because on earth, the distances we deal with are in metres, kilometres, and parsec and light years are very much larger than kilometres. Astronomers and scientists doing research on outer space use parsec and light years.
Formula used:
Complete step by step answer:
Parsec is a unit of length. 1 parsec is a huge distance, due to which the unit is used in the measure of large distances in the study of astronomy. Parsec is derived using trigonometry and parallax. One parsec is the distance which subtends a parallax angle of one arcsecond.
The radius of earth’s orbit (mean distance between earth and sun) is equal to one astronomical unit (AU). One AU is equal to 150 million kilometres, which is equal to
The parallax angle is denoted by
The parallax angle in terms of one AU and the distance (d) that subtends the parallax angle
Since the parallax angle is very much small,
i.e.
From equations (i) and (ii) we get that,
We can write the above equation as
Now, by the definition of one parsec, one parsec is the value of d when
One arcsecond is equal to
Therefore,
Substitute the value of 1 AU and
Therefore,
Therefore, the value of one parsec in metres is equal to
To convert 1 parsec to light years, first, let us convert 1 light years into metres.
One light year is the distance that light travels in one year. We know that light travels about
So, by using the formula
Therefore, one light year is approximately equal to
To convert one parsec to light years, simply divide (1) by (2).
i.e.
Hence, the correct option is B.
Note: Units like parsec and light years are very large units of length. These units cannot be used in our day-to-day life because on earth, the distances we deal with are in metres, kilometres, and parsec and light years are very much larger than kilometres. Astronomers and scientists doing research on outer space use parsec and light years.
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