Superlesson
Project 4-2
Foundations of Algebra and Geometry
Chapter 4, Equations
Part A, Understanding Equality
1. Because distances in space are so large, scientists often write distances in light-years or in parsecs rather than in miles. Go to the MegaConverter Web site to find out how far some astronomical distances are. Click on "Use the Selector List" then select "Astro Distance" and use the pull-down menus.
a. How far is 1 light-year in miles?
b. How far is 1 parsec in light-years?
2. Using the information found at the Cambridge X-ray Astronomy Group Web site, answer the following questions.
a. Find out how far away scientists can distinguish supernovae and x-ray stars.
b. Use your answer from 1b to write your answer from a in light-years.
Hint: 1 kiloparsec = 1000 parsecs.
c. Use your answer from 1c to write your answer from a in miles.
3. Does the distance depend on the form in which you write it? That is, is the distance the same if you write it in miles or light-years or parsecs? Explain.
Part B, Isolating the Variable
4. Using the information found at the Cambridge X-ray Astronomy Group Web site, answer the following questions.
a. Write an equation that relates the Earth's distance from the center of our galaxy to the radius of the galaxy.
b. Substitute for the variables and solve your equation from a for distance.
c. Write an equation that expresses the distance of the Earth from a star at the edge of our galaxy.
d. Solve your equation from c for distance.
Part D, Solving Two-Step Equations
5. The three fuel cells aboard the Space Shuttle weigh a total of 790 pounds which includes the 10 pound casing. Write and solve an equation to determine the weight of one fuel cell.