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Are We Alone

This document discusses the question of whether humans are alone in the universe. It begins by explaining the importance of understanding conditions required for intelligent life and learning about Earth, the solar system, and the Milky Way galaxy. The discoveries of science suggest there are many planets besides Earth in the universe. It goes on to provide some basic numerical values about Earth, such as its mass and distance from the sun. It uses these values to estimate properties of other planets and calculate, for example, how long it would take a space shuttle traveling at 20,000 km/hr to reach Mars if following a linear path, which would be 113.75 days, though the actual non-linear path would take longer.

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Bala Krishna
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145 views2 pages

Are We Alone

This document discusses the question of whether humans are alone in the universe. It begins by explaining the importance of understanding conditions required for intelligent life and learning about Earth, the solar system, and the Milky Way galaxy. The discoveries of science suggest there are many planets besides Earth in the universe. It goes on to provide some basic numerical values about Earth, such as its mass and distance from the sun. It uses these values to estimate properties of other planets and calculate, for example, how long it would take a space shuttle traveling at 20,000 km/hr to reach Mars if following a linear path, which would be 113.75 days, though the actual non-linear path would take longer.

Uploaded by

Bala Krishna
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Are We Alone?

One of those questions that comes to our mind whenever we think of universe is,
are we alone??
To answer this question, it is very important to learn about other earths Other
universes, if at all they exist, where intelligent life is possible. Before we go on with
answering these questions, let us learn about our earth, our solar system, our Milky
Way Galaxy in depth to understand the conditions that are required for an
intelligent life to exist.
The discoveries of science give us an idea that, there are many other planets along
with us, in this universe. Before we go on let us start with asking some basic
questions, learn about our approach in discovering those planets, learn why is it so
difficult to reach other planets?
Try describing the universe in a single line. Difficult right?? One thing we can say is
Universe is Big This statement emphasis on how difficult is to explain, universe in
a single line or I say, even in a large book!! We will only try to address the vary
basics of this Universe. First Our Place in the universe...
Ok. To start with, Let get into some of the basic known numerical values, related to
earth and other things. What is the Mass of the Earth? What is its distance from
Sun? What is its radius? Yes, we have already calculated these values and now we
are using those to estimate the properties of others. The distance between Earth
and sun is considered to be one Astronomical Unit and rest of the distances like
distance between planets, starts are measured in its terms.
Say, we know the distance between earth and mars. Can we calculate at certain
amount of speed, how long will take to reach mars?? The answer is yes. The formula
would be simple linear distance divided by speed. To matter of fact, I would like to
mention that both earth and mars moves in their own respective orbits. Even if we
say, we released a Space Shuttle, when earth and mars are their nearest distances,
it will easily take more time than calculated, for the space shuttle to reach mars, for
the path is not linear but it would be an arc, with length greater than the minimum
distance between earth and mars.
So taking, Distance between earth and mars is [Minimum] = 54.6 Million Kilometers
Speed of our space shuttle = 20,000 km/hr.
Time take to reach Mars [Linear Path] = 54.6 Million Kilometers / (20, 000
Kilometers /hr.) = 113.75 days

Considering non-linear path, the time taken would be more than that
of calculated. [Earth and Mars are shown on the same circle, only to

demonstrate the Idea. Earth and Mars orbit around sun in their own respective
orbits.]

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