--%>
Assignment Help - homework help

Explain Drake equation

Drake equation (F. Drake; 1961): The method of estimating the number of intelligent, scientific species (that is, able to communicate with other species) in subsistence in our space.

N = R fp ne fl fi ft L.

Here,

N is the number of species explained above at any specified moment in our Galaxy. The parameters it is evaluated from are as follows:

R = the rate of star formation in our solar system (in stars per year);
fp = the fraction of stars that contain planets;
ne = the total number of habitable planets per system with planets;
fl = the fraction of habitable planets on which the life arises;
fi = the fraction of such planets on which the life develops intelligence;
ft = the fraction of such planets where the intelligence grows into a technological civilization which is capable of communication; and
L = the mean life-time of such a scientific civilization.

Out of these quantities, only the first -- R -- is recognized with anything like any reliability; this is on the order of 10 stars per year. The others, most particularly the fractions, are approximately totally pure speculation at this point. Computations made by respectable astronomers vary by something like ten orders of magnitude in the last estimation of the number of species out there.

   Related Questions in Physics

  • Q : Define Hoop conjecture Hoop conjecture

    Hoop conjecture (K.S. Thorne, 1972): The conjecture (as so far unproven, although there is substantial proof to support it) that a non-spherical object, non-spherically compressed, will only form a black hole whenever all parts of the

    		•
  • Q : Define Landauers principle Landauer's

    Landauer's principle: The principle which defines that it doesn't explicitly take energy to calculate data, however instead it takes energy to remove any data, as erasure is a vital step in computation.

    		•
  • Q : Development of Missile technology Name

    Name the women scientist who played the essential role in the development of Missile technology of India and is nick named as the ‘Missile Woman’?

    		•
  • Q : What do you mean by the term geocentric

    What do you mean by the term geocentric? Briefly describe it.

    		•
  • Q : Branches of physics Briefly list out

    Briefly list out the name of all the branches of physics?

    		•
  • Q : Balanced field takeoff Describe the

    Describe the process of balanced field takeoff in brief?

    		•
  • Q : What it means of Aberration Defining 

    Defining Aberration: The obvious change in the position of a light-emitting object due to the fidelity of the speed of light and the

    		•
  • Q : Explain Gauss law for magnetic fields

    Gauss' law for magnetic fields (K.F. Gauss): The magnetic flux via a closed surface is zero (0); no magnetic charges present; in its differential form, div B = 0

    		•
  • Q : Explain Casimir effect Casimir effect

    Casimir effect (Casimir): The quantum mechanical effect, where two very big plates positioned close to each other will experience an attractive force, in the nonattendance of other forces. The cause is implicit particle-antiparticle p

    		•
  • Q : Explain Michelson-Morley experiment

    Michelson-Morley experiment (A.A. Michelson, E.W. Morley; 1887): Probably the most famous null-experiment of all time, designed to confirm the existence of the proposed "lumeniferous aether" via which light waves were considered to pr

    		•