Question

A Sense of Proportion: Earth orbits 1 AU from the Sun, and the Oort Cloud extends from about 10,000 to 100,000 AU from the Sun. If you represent Earth's orbit around the Sun with a paper plate 4 inches in radius, how far away will the inner edge of the Oort Cloud be? How far away will the outer edge of the Oort Cloud be? Express your answers in miles.

Answer 1

Answer:

3.2 miles

Explanation:

• If the Astronomical units is about 1 A.U which is = 1/2 plate then the diameter = 2 inches will be of  10,000 AU   2 X 10,000 = 20,000 inches.

• Thus the 20,000 A.U / 12 = 1,666 feet   1,666 / 5280 = /3 of a mile  then the  10,000 AU  2 X 100,000 = 200,000 inches.

• 20,000 / 12 = 16,666 feet  

• 16,666 / 5280 = 3.2 miles