Conceptual Physics (12th Edition)

Published by Addison-Wesley
ISBN 10: 0321909100
ISBN 13: 978-0-32190-910-7

Chapter 28 - Think and Do - Page 539: 36

Answer

Just as N coins fit between the opening and the ground, N suns would fit in the 150,000,000 km that is the distance between the opening and the sun's current position.

Work Step by Step

Please see the diagram. The solid angle from the opening in the paper to the coin-sized image on the ground is the same as the angle between the opening and the Sun. The triangular shapes are similar. Do the experiment to find out how many coins will fit between the opening, and the coin-sized image of the sun on the ground. The sun's actual average diameter is about 1,400,000 km. How close did you get?
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