Chapter 16, Problem 1VSC

To determine

The approximate width of the region inside the black square.

Answer to Problem 1VSC

Solution:

The approximate width of the region inside the black square is 200 to 300 light years.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The given diagram shows the formation of one of the first stars with different streams of gases. In the diagram, small length element between two points on left side is 600 light years.

The left side length is 1.7 cm on centimeter scale and the length of the square box length is 0.7 cm.

Therefore, the ration is as follows:

$\begin{array}{c}{L}_{\text{R}}=\frac{\text{0}\text{.7 cm}}{1.7\text{ cm}}\\ =0.412\end{array}$

Here, $L_{\text{R}}$ is the length of the square box compared to left side length.

The length L of the space inside the black square in light years is as follows:

$L=\left(600\text{ light years}\right)(L_{\text{R}})$

Substitute 0.412 for $L_{\text{R}}$ in the equation $L=\left(600\text{ light years}\right)(L_{\text{s}})$ .

$\begin{array}{c}L=\left(600\text{ light years}\right)(0.412)\\ =247.2\text{ light years}\end{array}$

Thus, the length of the space inside the black square is 247.2 light years.

Conclusion:

Hence, the approximate length of the space inside the black square is 200 to 300 light years.