Astronomy 10 Spring
2000
Worksheet #1
1. Let’s practice with units
(dimensions) and estimation:
a) when you look at the Sun
(through appropriate filters!), how far back in the past are you seeing it? (1
AU = 1.5x1011 m, speed of light=3x108 m/s)
b) if we scale up an atomic
nucleus (R=10-15 m) to the size of the head of a BB (R=1mm), how big
would an atom (R=10-10 m) be?
c) How many AU are there in a
light year?
d) How many drops of water
are there in all the oceans?
2. Would the constellations
look the same from Neptune? From a star 10 light years away? From a star 1000
light years away?
3. Organize a demonstration
of retrograde motion using people in the classroom.
4. Divide up into opposing
sides, and argue the following propositions (using evidence you could gather
yourself in modern times):
a) the Earth is spinning
b) the Earth is going around
the Sun
c) the Earth is round
d) the stars are very far
away