Question

The diameter of our disk-shaped galaxy, the Milky Way, is about 1.7E+5 light-years (ly). The distance to the Andromeda galaxy, which is the spiral galaxy nearest to the Milky Way, is about 1.9E+6 ly. If a scale model represents the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies as dinner plates 26 cm in diameter, determine the distance between the centers of the two plates.

Answer 1

19/1.7 = 11.2

11.2 * 26 = 290 cm = 2.9 meters

Answer 2

Hi Damon
Can you please explain how you got 19 ? and why is it being divided by 1.7 ?

Thanks!

Sarah

Answer 3

1.9 * 10^6 = 19 * 10^5
divide that by 1.7 * 10^5

the 10^5 cancels and the ratio of distance between to diameter is
19/1.7