Download The Drake Equation

The Drake Equation
Noah Weiss
Basics
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The Drake Equation is a hypothetical
equation created in an attempt to
estimate the number of
extraterrestrial civilizations in our
galaxy.
It was developed by Dr. Frank Drake
in the 1960’s.
Frank Drake
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Author of the Drake Equation.
Founder of the Search of
Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI)
Primary field is radio astronomy,
which is the branch of astronomy in
which celestial bodies and
phenomena in space are studied by
examining their radio wave
emissions.
The Equation
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The Drake Equation is:
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N = (R*)(fp)(ne)(fl)(fi)(ft)(L)
The Variables
• N is the number of civilizations in our galaxy
with which we might expect to be able to
communicate
• R* is the rate of star formation in our galaxy
• fp is the fraction of those stars which have
planets
• ne is average number of planets which can
potentially support life per star that has
planets
• fl is the fraction of the above which actually go
on to develop life
• f is the fraction of the above which actually go
on to develop intelligent life
• fc is the fraction of the above which are willing
and able to communicate
• L is the expected lifetime of such a civilization
Current Drake Equation
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http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/origi
ns/drake.html
R*=10/year
fp=.5
ne=2
fl=1
fi==.01
fc=1
L=10000
N=10000
Is there life in the universe?
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Current efforts to find life in out solar
system are concentrated on Jupiter’s
Moon Europa, which has a layer of
liquid water under its surface, and
examining meteors.
Works Cited
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Microsoft Encarta, Exobiology
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/origi
ns/drake.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SETI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake_e
quation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_D
rake