Part 1: Interpreting Light and Motion

Use the data table below showing redshift values and estimated distances of various galaxies to answer the following questions.

Galaxy Name	Redshift Value (z)	Estimated Distance (light years)
Galaxy A	0.02	280 million
Galaxy B	0.05	750 million
Galaxy C	0.1	1.3 billion
Galaxy D	0.3	3.8 billion

Question 1 (3 points)

What trend do you notice between redshift and distance?

Question 2 (3 points)

Which galaxy is moving away the fastest? How do you know?

Question 3 (3 points)

Explain how this data supports the idea that the universe is expanding.

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Part 2: Calculate Distances Using a Scale

Question 4 (8 points)

Use the table to calculate how far each planet is from the Sun in scale distance (cm). Let's use the scale 1 AU = 10 cm, and use the formulaDistance in cm = AU 10 cm.

Copy and paste the table into your answer box. Then, add your calculated values.

Planet	Distance (AU)	Distance (cm)
Mercury	0.39
Venus	0.72
Earth	1.00
Mars	1.52
Jupiter	5.20
Neptune	30.05

Question 5 (3 points)

If 1 AU = 10 cm, how far would the Oort Cloud (100,000 AU) be from the Sun?

Part 3: Use Math to Compare Light Years and Solar System Distances

Use this information to answer the following questions.

Facts:

• 1 light year = 9.5 trillion kilometers
• 1 AU = 150 million kilometers

Question 6 (3 points)

A newly discovered exoplanet is 28.5 trillion kilometers away from Earth.How many light years away is it? Show your work.

Question 7 (3 points)

The distance to the Oort Cloud is 100,000 AU.How many kilometers is 100,000 AU?

Show your work and be sure to include your unit of measurement in your answer.

100,000 AU 150,000,000 km = ______

Question 8 (3 points)

Divide your answer from the previous question by 9.5 trillion to convert the distance to light years.

Show your work:Oort Cloud distance in km 9,500,000,000,000 = __________ light years

Question 9 (3 points)

In your own words, why is it useful to use scales and light years when studying space?