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Name Date Class WORKSHEET 44 MATH S KILLS U SED MATH IN SCIENCE: EARTH SCIENCE Distances in Space Learn about the units of length used to measure distances in our solar system and beyond. Multiplication Division Decimals Scientific Notation SI Measurement and Conversion Because astronomers study objects over such extremely large distances, astronomers commonly use units of length that are much bigger than the ones we usually use. Two common units of distance used in astronomy are the astronomical unit (AU) and the light-year. Astronomical Unit The astronomical unit (AU) is the average distance from the Earth to the sun, measured to be about 1.5 3 108 km. It is a convenient unit to use when discussing distances within our solar system. 1. Saturn has an average distance of 9.5 AU from the sun. How many centimeters is this? SCIENCE: EARTH SCIENCE Pluto, the outermost planet in the solar system, is about 6 3 109 km from the sun. How many astronomical units (AU) is this? Light-year The star Betelgeuse, meaning “armpit of the giant,” is 310 light-years from Earth. How many hours does light from this star take to reach Earth? 5. How many AUs are in a light-year? ( onds in a year.) MATH 4. IN The light-year is defined as the distance that light travels in a year. (The speed of light is 3 3 105 km/s.) For instance, Alpha Centauri, the closest star to the Earth after the sun, is 4.3 light-years from us. 3. How long does it take light from this star to reach us? ▼ ▼ ▼ Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. 2. Hint: There are approximately 31,536,000 sec- MATH SKILLS FOR SCIENCE 67 Name Date Class WORKSHEET 44 MATH S KILLS U SED MATH IN SCIENCE: EARTH SCIENCE Distances in Space Learn about the units of length used to measure distances in our solar system and beyond. Multiplication Division Decimals Scientific Notation SI Measurement and Conversion Because astronomers study objects over such extremely large distances, astronomers commonly use units of length that are much bigger than the ones we usually use. Two common units of distance used in astronomy are the astronomical unit (AU) and the light-year. Astronomical Unit The astronomical unit (AU) is the average distance from the Earth to the sun, measured to be about 1.5 3 108 km. It is a convenient unit to use when discussing distances within our solar system. 1. Saturn has an average distance of 9.5 AU from the sun. How many centimeters is this? 9.5 AU 5 9.5 3 (1.5 3 108 km) 5 1.425 3 109 km; 1.425 3 109 km 5 1.425 3 1014 cm, or 142,500,000,000,000 cm 2. Pluto, the outermost planet in the solar system, is about 6 3 109 km from the sun. How many astronomical units (AU) is this? SCIENCE: EARTH SCIENCE Light-year The light-year is defined as the distance that light travels in a year. (The speed of light is 3 3 105 km/s.) For instance, Alpha Centauri, the closest star to the Earth after the sun, is 4.3 light-years from us. 3. How long does it take light from this star to reach us? The star Betelgeuse, meaning “armpit of the giant,” is 310 light-years from Earth. How many hours does light from this star take to reach Earth? MATH 4. IN It takes 4.3 years. 310 3 365 days/year 5 113,150 days; 113,150 days 3 24 hours 5 2,715,600 hours 5. How many AUs are in a light-year? ( onds in a year.) Hint: ▼ ▼ ▼ Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. (6 3 109) 4 (1.5 3 108) 5 40 AU There are approximately 31,536,000 sec- Light travels 3 3 105 km/s 3 31,536,000 seconds 5 9.5 3 1012 km in 1 year. There are (9.5 3 1012) 4 (1.5 3 108) 5 6.3 3 104 AU, or 63,000 AU in a light-year. MATH SKILLS FOR SCIENCE 67
