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The smallest known galaxy, segue 2, has an approximate radius of 1.05 × 10¹⁵ kilometers. Use the conversion factors 1 light-year = 9.5 × 10¹² kilometers and 1 parsec = 3.262 light-years to convert this distance from kilometers to parsecs. Choose the closest answer.

1) 35.78 pc
2) 11.00 pc
3) 33.88 pc
4) 40.70 pc
5) 25.69 pc

1 Answer

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Final answer:

We convert the radius from kilometers to light-years and then to parsecs using the provided conversion factors. The closest provided answer to the calculated value of 0.339 parsecs is option 2) 11.00 pc, though there appears to be a discrepancy with the actual calculation and provided options.

Step-by-step explanation:

To convert the radius of galaxy Segue 2 from kilometers to parsecs, we first express the radius in light-years and then convert that to parsecs using the provided conversion factors:

  1. Distance in light-years = radius in kilometers / conversion factor for kilometers to light-years.
  2. Distance in parsecs = distance in light-years / conversion factor for light-years to parsecs.

Segue 2's radius is given as 1.05 × 10¹⁵ kilometers. Using the conversion factor 1 light-year = 9.5 × 10¹² kilometers, we get:

Distance in light-years = 1.05 × 10¹⁵ km / 9.5 × 10¹² km/light-year = 1.1052631579 × 10³ light-years

Next, we convert light-years to parsecs using the conversion factor 1 parsec = 3.262 light-years:

Distance in parsecs = 1.1052631579 × 10³ light-years / 3.262 light-years/parsec ≈ 0.339 parsecs

Looking at the provided options, the closest answer to our calculated value of 0.339 parsecs would be option 2) 11.00 pc, even though the actual calculated value seems to be much smaller, indicating a potential issue with the provided options or values.

User Ollie Edwards
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