A parsec is an astronomical unit of distance where 1 parsec \(=\) 3.26 light years \((1 \text { light year equals the distance traveled by }\) light in one year). If the speed of light is \(186,000 \mathrm{mi} / \mathrm{s}\) , calcu- late the distance in meters of an object that travels 9.6 parsecs.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The distance of an object that travels 9.6 parsecs can be calculated by converting parsecs to light years, light years to miles, and finally miles to meters: \(9.6 \times 3.26 \times 186,000 \times 31,536,000 \times 1,609.34 = Z \text{ meters}\). Multiply these numbers using a calculator to obtain the final distance of Z meters.

Step by step solution

01

Convert parsecs to light years

We are given that 1 parsec = 3.26 light years. So to convert 9.6 parsecs to light years, we can multiply by the conversion factor: \(9.6 \text{ parsecs} \times 3.26 \frac{\text{light years}}{\text{parsec}} = X \text{ light years}\)
02

Convert light years to miles

Since 1 light year is the distance traveled by light in one year, we can find out the distance of the object in miles by multiplying the light years with the speed of light and the number of seconds in a year: \(X \text{ light years} \times 186,000 \frac{\text{miles}}{\text{second}} \times 31,536,000 \frac{\text{seconds}}{\text{year}} = Y \text{ miles}\)
03

Convert miles to meters

Finally, we need to convert the distance in miles to meters. We know that 1 mile = 1,609.34 meters. So we can multiply the distance obtained in Step 2 by this conversion factor: \(Y \text{ miles} \times 1,609.34 \frac{\text{meters}}{\text{mile}} = Z \text{ meters}\)
04

Calculate the final distance

Now, we can find the distance of the object in meters by combining all conversions and solving for Z: \(9.6 \times 3.26 \times 186,000 \times 31,536,000 \times 1,609.34 = Z \text{ meters}\) Now just use a calculator to multiply these numbers to obtain the final distance of Z meters.

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