Nelson 1
Mekenzi Nelson
Signature Assignment
Part 1
Acrux
Acrux is the brightest star in the constellation and the 12th brightest star in the
sky.The star has an apparent visual magnitude of 0.77 and is approximately 320
light years distant. Its name is short for Alpha Crux. At -63 declination, Alpha
Crucis is the southernmost first magnitude star.
Beta Crucis
Beta Crucis is the second brightest star of the Southern Cross and the 20th
brightest star in the night sky. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 1.30 and is
approximately 350 light years distant from the solar system. It is classified as a
Beta Cephei variable. The star can only be seen from locations south of the Tropic
of Cancer (23 26 16 N). Its estimated age is 10 million years.
Epsilon Crucis
Epsilon Crucis is an orange giant, a class K3III star with a visual magnitude of
3.56, approximately 228 light years distant from Earth.
Theta Crucis
Theta Crucis is a designation shared by two distinct star systems. Theta-1 Crucis
is a spectroscopic double belonging to the spectral class Am, approximately 230
light years distant. It has a visual magnitude of 4.30.
"Crux Constellation: Mythology, Facts, Star Map, Major Stars, Deep Sky
Objects." Constellation Guide, www.constellation-
guide.com/constellation-list/crux-constellation/.
Part 2
E = mc2
E represents the energy, which we measure in Joules.
M represents the mass of the specified object.
C represents the speed of light.
This seemingly simple algebraic formula represents the correlation of energy to
matter (energy equivalence of any given amount of mass). Many have heard of it,
but not very many understand what it implies. Many people are unaware of just
how much energy is contained within matter. So essentially what the equation is
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saying is that for a specific amount of mass (in kilograms), if you multiply it by
the speed of light squared (3.00108)2, you get its energy equivalence (Joules).
(Fun Way of Understanding E=mc2)
Equation 2: d = gt2/2
d = distance an object falls when released from rest (no air resistance)
g = acceleration of gravity at the Earths surface
t = time the object has been falling
Objects fall at the same speed (if no air resistance) and weight doesnt matter.
Equation 3: v = gt
v = velocity of a falling object if released from rest (no air resistance)
g = acceleration of gravity at Earths surface
t = time the object has been falling
Objects fall at the same speed (if no air resistance) and weight doesnt matter.
With no air resistance objects fall at the same speed in a given gravity field.
"Some modern theories actually suggest that the acceleration of gravity does
depend on the material composition of the object in a very subtle way," says Jim
Williams, a physicist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). If so, the theory
of relativity would need re-writing; there would be a revolution in physics. ("Was
Galileo Wrong? | Science Mission Directorate")
Equation 4: e = 1 Tcold/Thot
e = efficiency of energy use
Tcold = the temperature of the environment surrounding the heat engine
Thot = the internal operating temperature of the engine
I do not believe it is possible to achieve 100% efficiency in a heat engine. In
everything we do energy is exhausted. You can try to achieve 100% efficiency, but
I dont believe it will work in a heat engine. I dont believe it is possible to build a
car, using any kind of burning fuel, that is 100% efficient.
Part 3
Newton developed his "Law of Gravity" to explain the attractive force between a
pair of masses.( "Newton's Law of Gravity - Basic Principles")
o The famous story that Isaac Newton came up with the idea for the law of
gravity by having an apple fall on his head is not true, although he did
begin thinking about the issue on his mother's farm when he saw an apple
fall from a tree. He wondered if the same force at work on the apple was
also at work on the moon. If so, why did the apple fall to the Earth and not
the moon?( "Newton's Law of Gravity - Basic Principles")
o We experience gravity in our day-to-day lives. Gravity is what holds the
planets in orbit around the sun and what keeps the moon in orbit around
Earth.
o The gravitational pull of the moon pulls the seas towards it, causing the
ocean tides.
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Part 4
Fermi Paradox is simple that there are billions of stars n the galaxy and if
everystar was like the sun with planets orbiting it, perhaps there are more planets
like earth with organisms inhabiting it. I believe that Fermi Paradox could be
true. I do not doubt the existence of extraterritorial species.
A few possible resoulutions for the paradox are:
o Lets imagine that after billions of years in existence, 1% of Earth-like
planets develop life (if thats true, every grain of sand would represent one
planet with life on it). And imagine that on 1% of those planets, the life
advances to an intelligent level like it did here on Earth. (Fermi
Paradox)
o Advanced civilizations destroy themselves on short timescales.
(Possible Answers to the Fermi Paradox)
o Planets with the right conditions are rare:
Habitable zones, proper orbit for liquid water are rare
The galaxy is a dangerous place (asteroid impacts, gamma-ray bursters,
etc). Life is rare (Possible Answers to the Fermi Paradox)
o Perhaps We are the first in the galaxy:
Life is new to the galaxy and evolution takes time. We are the first
intelligent civilization. Problem: the Sun being an average star, if other
stars formed a million years ahead of us, then they would be a million
years ahead of us technologically speaking. (Possible Answers to the
Fermi Paradox)
Works Cited
"The Fermi Paradox." Wait But Why, waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/fermi-paradox.html.
"A Fun Way of Understanding E=mc2." Universe Today,
www.universetoday.com/114617/a-fun-way-of-understanding-emc2/.
"Newton's Law of Gravity - Basic Principles." ThoughtCo,
www.thoughtco.com/newtons-law-of-gravity-2698878.
"Possible Answers to the Fermi Paradox." Fermi's Paradox,
fermisparadox.com/Possible-answers-to-fermi-paradox.htm.
"Was Galileo Wrong? | Science Mission Directorate." Science Mission Directorate |
Science, science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-
nasa/2004/06may_lunarranging.
