Britton Mickelson | PHYS-1010 |

Physics Signature
Assignment
SPRING SEMESTER PROJECT

Star Identification
Alpha Centauri
i.
ii.

iii.
iv.

Distance From Earth: 4.37 Light years

When light from star now visible left the star: It takes about 4.37 years for
light to reach earth from Alpha Centauri because it is 4.37 light years away
from earth. So the light left Alpha Centauri in 2012
Size compared to the Sun: Alpha Centauri is 1.227 Solar Radius.
Luminosity compared to the Sun: The luminosity of Alpha Centauri is about 1.6
times that of our sun.

Beta Centauri
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

Distance from Earth: About 350 Light years.

When light from the star now visible left the star: The light from Beta Centauri
left the star in 1666, which is 350 years ago.
Size compared to the Sun:
Luminosity compared to the Sun: 41,700 L

Gamma Centauri
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.

Distance from Earth: About 130 Light years.

When light from the star now visible left the star: The light from Gamma
Centauri left the star in 1886, which is 130 years ago.
Size compared to the Sun:
Luminosity compared to the Sun: 95 times brighter than our sun

Gacrux

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i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

Distance from Earth: 88 light years.

When light from the star now visible left the star: The light from Gacrux that
we see now left the star in 1928
Size compared to the Sun: 84 solar radius
Luminosity compared to the Sun: 1,500 times brighter than our sun

Equation Analysis
E=MC^2
1. E=Energy(Variable), m=Mass(Variable) and c^2= Speed of light(constant)
2. C^2; size is = (3.00 x 10^8)^2.
3. If energy grows then mass grows with it. So yes the larger the mass the larger
the energy
4. Yes and No; A small amount of mass can produce energy, but matter/mass
cannot be converted into energy
d=gt^2/2
5. Answer: Objects fall at the same speed (if no air resistance) and weight doesnt
matter.
v=gt
6. Answer: Objects fall at the same speed (if no air resistance) and weight doesnt
matter.
Apollo 15 Hammer and Feather Drop
7. I do not have a definitive answer as to why, however Im sure grateful Galileo
was willing to counter human logic. Light or heavy we now know they fall at the
same rate.
8. Inertia is the great equalizer. Sure it may be harder to move a heavy object,
however once moving it is very difficult to spot
e=1-T-cold/T-hot
9. Only in Theory is it possible to achieve 100% efficiency.
10.Nope, Not possible. Absolute zero can never be achieved.
11.Again, only in theory; it wouldnt be practical to achieve cold and hot
temperatures at Zero
12.This question goes hand in hand with the previous question. Overall no, its not
practical.
13.Nope, There will all be friction which will create thermal energy.

Learning about a Law of Physics

Newtons third law of motion.

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1. Newtons third law of motion states: Whenever one object exerts a force on a
second object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite force on the
first. This means that when two objects bump, as soon as they knock each
other they both exert an equal force but in opposite directions
2. 3 examples in the real world involving the law or principle
a. A person pushes on a wall. The wall pushes back on the person.
b. A person sits on a chair and the force of the weight pushes down, The
chair pushes back on the person
c. Hitting a tennis ball with a tennis racquet: A tennis ball pushes on a
racquet/The racquet pushes on the ball

Explanation of Fermis Paradox and possible resolution

1. We are all alone in the universe. If there was extraterrestrial life we would
have discovered it by now, however no real evidence has ever been presented
to show that we have any galactic neighbors.
2. Four possible resolutions to the paradox.
a. Develop technology; we could continue to develop better space
technology and really explore the universe.
b. Try varying forms of communication. Human communicate by speech,
signals, codes. Maybe we need to reevaluate how other species here
communicate.
c. Send nukes into outer space and blow them up. It sounds stupid, but
what better way to catch somethings attention then through a firework
display
d. Or come to the relation, that we are alone and to stop wasting money
on exploration, but rather the expansion of the human race.

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