Question

The smallest detail visible with ground-based solar telescopes is about 1 arc second. How large a region (in km) does this represent on the Sun? Hint: Use the small-angle formula: angular diameter (in arc seconds) 2.06 ✕ 105 = linear diameter distance . (Note: The average distance to the Sun can be found in Celestial profile: The Sun.)

Answer 1

Answer:

x = 727.5 km

Explanation:

With the conditions given using trigonometry, we can find the tangent

       tan θ = CO / CA

With CO the opposite leg and CE is the adjacent leg which is the distance from the Tierral to Sun

   

        D =150 10⁶ km (1000m / 1 km)

        D = 150 10⁹ m.

We must take the given angle to radians.

       1º  = 3600 arc s  

       π rad = 180º

       θ = 1 arc s (1º / 3600 s arc) (pi rad / 180º) =

       θ = 4.85 10⁻⁶ rad

That angle is extremely small, so we can approximate the tangent to the angle

     

       θ = x / D

       x = θ D

       x = 4.85 10-6  150 109

       x = 727.5 103 m

       x = 727.5 km