Question

Assume the diameter of earth 12700km is scale to 1cm and answer the following. How far away is the nearest star ( distance 4.24 light year) on this scale

Answer 1

Answer:

3600 * 24 * 365 = 3.15E7 sec/yr

3.15E7 s/yr * 3E8 m/s = 9.46E15 m/Ly   distance light travels in 1 yr

4.24 LY * 9.46E15 m/Ly = 4.01E16 m    distance to star in meters

Radius of earth = 1.27E7 m / 2 = 6.35E6 m

4.01E16m / 6.35E6 m/cm = 6.31E9 cm  scale distance from center of earth

6.31E9 cm = 6.31E7 m = 63,100 km    about 1/6 the distance to the moon