The Cosmic Distance Ladder - Student Guide
Question 1: Over the last 10 years, a large number of iceballs have been found in the outer solar system out beyond Pluto. These objects are collectively known as the Kuiper Belt. An amateur astronomer suggests using the radar ranging technique to learn the rotation periods of Kuiper Belt Objects. Do you think that this plan would be successful? Explain why or why not?
Question 2: Enter your perpendicular distance to the boat in map units.
Question 3: Repeat the process of applying triangulation to determine the distance to the boat and then answer the following:
What is your best estimate for the perpendicular distance to the boat?
What is the greatest distance to the boat that is still consistent with your observations?
What is the smallest distance to the boat that is still consistent with your observations?
Question 4: Repeat the process of applying triangulation to determine the distance to the boat and then explain how accurately you can determine this distance and the factors contributing to that accuracy
Question 5: Could one of the stars listed in the table above be an RR Lyrae star? Explain why or why not
Question 6: Note that there are several stars that are above the main sequence in the upper left. Can you explain why these stars are not on the main sequence?
Question 7: Note that there are several stars below the main sequence especially near temperatures of about 5000K. Can you explain why these stars are not on the main sequence?
Question 8: Determine the distance to the Hyades cluster.
Question 9: Determine the distance to the M67 cluster.
Question 10: A type II Cepheid has an apparent magnitude of 12 and a pulsation period of 3 days. Determine the distance to the Cepheid variable and explain your method?
Question 11: Determine the distance to Supernovae 1994ae and explain your method in the box below?
Question 12: Load the data for Supernova 1987A. Explain why it is not possible to determine the distance to this supernova?
Attachment:- Cosmic Distance Ladder Lab.rar