NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 -

Units and Measurements

2.1 Fill in the blanks.

(a) The volume of a cube of side 1 cm is equal to …..m3

(b) The surface area of a solid cylinder of radius 2.0 cm and height 10.0 cm is equal to…(mm)2
(c) A vehicle moving with a speed of 18 km h–1 covers….m in 1 s

(d) The relative density of lead is 11.3. Its density is ….g cm–3 or ….kg m–3.

Answer:

(a) Volume of cube, V = (1 cm)3 = (10-2 m)3 = 10-6 m3

(b) Surface area = curved area + area on top /base = 2πrh + 2πr2 = 2πr (h + r)

r = 2 cm = 20 mm

h = 10 cm = 100 mm

Surface area = 2πr (h + r) = 2 x 3.14 x 20 (100 + 20) = 15072 mm2

Hence, the answer is 15072 mm2

(c) Speed of vehicle = 18 km/h

1 km = 1000 m

1 hr = 60 x 60 = 3600 s

1 km/hr = 1000 m/3600 s = 5/18 m/s

18 km/h = = (18 x 1000)/3600

= 5 m/s

Distance travelled by the vehicle in 1 s = 5 m

(d) The relative density of lead is 11.3 g cm-3

=> 11.3 x 103 kg m-3 [1 kilogram = 103g, 1 meter = 102 cm]

=> 11.3 x 103 kg m-4

2.2 Fill in the blanks by suitable conversion of units.

(a) 1 kg m2 s–2 = ….g cm2 s–2

(b) 1 m = ….. ly
(c) 3.0 m s–2 = …. km h–2
(d) G = 6.67 × 10–11 N m2 (kg)–2 = …. (cm)3s–2 g–1
Answer:

(a) 1 kg m2 s–2 = ….g cm2 s–2

 NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 -
Units and Measurements

1 kg m2 s-2 = 1kg x 1m2 x 1s -2

We know that,

1kg = 103

1m = 100cm = 102cm

When the values are put together, we get

1kg x 1m2 x 1s-2 = 103g x (102cm)2 x 1s-2 = 103g x 104 cm2 x 1s-2 = 107 gcm2s-2

=>1kg m2 s-2 = 107 gcm2s-2

(b) 1 m = ….. ly

Using the formula,

Distance = speed x time

Speed of light = 3 x 108 m/s

Time = 1 yr = 365 days = 365 x 24 hr = 365 x 24 x 60 x 60 sec

Put these values in the formula mentioned above, and we get

One light year distance = (3 x 108 m/s) x (365 x 24 x 60 x 60) = 9.46×1015m

9.46 x 1015 m = 1ly

So that, 1m = 1/9.46 x 1015ly

=> 1.06 x 10-16ly

=>1 meter = 1.06 x 10-16ly

(c) 3.0 m s–2 = …. km h–2

1 km = 1000m so that 1m = 1/1000 km

3.0 m s-2 = 3.0 (1/1000 km) (1/3600 hour) -2 = 3.0 x 10-3 km x ((1/3600)-2h-2)

= 3 x 10-3km x (3600)2 hr-2 = 3.88 x 104 km h-2

=> 3.0 m s-2 = 3.88 x 104 km h-2

(d) G = 6.67 × 10–11 N m2 (kg)–2 = …. (cm)3s–2 g–1

G = 6.67 x 10-11 N m2 (kg)-2

We know that,

1N = 1kg m s-2
 NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 -
Units and Measurements

1 kg = 103 g

1m = 100cm= 102 cm

Put the values together, we get

=> 6.67 x 10-11 Nm2 kg-2 = 6.67 x 10-11 x (1kg m s -2) (1m2) (1kg-2)

Solve the following, and cancelling out the units, we get

=> 6.67 x 10-11 x (1kg -1 x 1m3 x 1s-2)

Put the above values together to convert kg to g and m to cm.

=> 6.67 x 10-11 x (103g)-1 x (102 cm)3 x (1s-2)

=> 6.67 x 10-8 cm3 s-2 g -1

=>G = 6.67 x 10-11 Nm2(kg)-2 = 6.67 x 10-8 (cm)3 s-2 g -1

2.3 A calorie is a unit of heat (energy in transit), which equals about 4.2 J, where 1J =1 kg m2 s–2.
Suppose we employ a system of units in which the unit of mass equals α kg, the unit of length
equals β m, and the unit of time is γ s. Show that a calorie has a magnitude of 4.2 α–1 β–2 γ2 in terms of
the new units.

Answer

1 calorie = 4.2 J = 4.2 kg m2 s–2

The standard formula for the conversion is

Here, x = 1, y = 2 and z =- 2

M1 = 1 kg, L1 = 1m, T1 = 1s

and M2 = α kg, L2 = β m, T2 = γ s
 NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 -
Units and Measurements

2.4 Explain this statement clearly:

“To call a dimensional quantity ‘large’ or ‘small’ is meaningless without specifying a standard for
comparison”. In view of this, reframe the following statements wherever necessary.
(a) atoms are very small objects
(b) a jet plane moves with great speed
(c) the mass of Jupiter is very large
(d) the air inside this room contains a large number of molecules
(e) a proton is much more massive than an electron
(f) the speed of sound is much smaller than the speed of light.

(a) Atoms are small object

Answer:

(a) In comparison with a soccer ball, atoms are very small

(b) When compared with a bicycle, a jet plane travels at high speed.

(c) When compared with the mass of a cricket ball, the mass of Jupiter is very large.

(d) As compared with the air inside a lunch box, the air inside the room has a large number of molecules.

(e) A proton is massive when compared with an electron.

(f) Like comparing the speed of a bicycle and a jet plane, the speed of light is more than the speed of sound.

2.5 A new unit of length is chosen such that the speed of light in a vacuum is unity. What is the
distance between the Sun and the Earth in terms of the new unit if light takes 8 min and 20 s to cover
this distance?

Answer:

Distance between them = Speed of light x Time taken by light to cover the distance

Speed of light = 1 unit

Time taken = 8 x 60 + 20 = 480 + 20 = 500s

The distance between Sun and Earth = 1 x 500 = 500 units

2.6 Which of the following is the most precise device for measuring length?
(a) a vernier callipers with 20 divisions on the sliding scale
(b) a screw gauge of pitch 1 mm and 100 divisions on the circular scale
(c) an optical instrument that can measure length to within a wavelength of light

Answer:

(a) Least count = 1-

 NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 -
Units and Measurements

2.7. A student measures the thickness of a human hair by looking at it through a

microscope of magnification 100. He makes 20 observations and finds that the average width of the
hair in the field of view of the microscope is 3.5 mm. What is the estimate on the thickness of the
hair?

Answer

Magnification of the microscope = 100

The average width of the hair in the field of view of the microscope = 3.5 mm

Actual thickness of hair =3.5 mm/100 = 0.035 mm

2. 8. Answer the following :

(a) You are given a thread and a metre scale. How will you estimate the diameter of
the thread?
(b) A screw gauge has a pitch of 1.0 mm and 200 divisions on the circular scale. Do
you think it is possible to arbitrarily increase the accuracy of the screw gauge by
increasing the number of divisions on the circular scale?
(c) The mean diameter of a thin brass rod is to be measured by vernier callipers. Why
is a set of 100 measurements of the diameter expected to yield a more reliable
estimate than a set of 5 measurements only?

Answer

(a) The thread should be wrapped around a pencil a number of times to form a coil having its turns touching
each other closely. Measure the length of this coil with a metre scale. If L be the length of the coil and n be
the number of turns of the coil, then the diameter of the thread is given by the relation

Diameter = L/n.
(b) Least count of the screw gauge = Pitch/number of divisions on the circular scale
 NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 -
Units and Measurements

So, theoretically, when the number of divisions on the circular scale is increased, the least count of the
screw gauge will decrease. Hence, the accuracy of the screw gauge will increase. However, this is only a
theoretical idea. Practically, there will be many other difficulties when the number of turns is increased.

(c) The probability of making random errors can be reduced to a larger extent in 100 observations than in
the case of 5 observations.

2.9 . The photograph of a house occupies an area of 1.75 cm2 on a 35 mm slide. The slide is projected
onto a screen, and the area of the house on the screen is 1.55 m2. What is the linear magnification of
the projector-screen arrangement?

Answer

Arial Magnification = Area of the image/Area of the object

= 1.55/1.75 x 104

= 8.857x 103

Linear Magnification = √Arial magnification

= √8.857x 103

= 94. 1

2.10 State the number of significant figures in the following:

(a) 0.007 m2
(b) 2.64 × 1024 kg
(c) 0.2370 g cm–3
(d) 6.320 J
(e) 6.032 N m–2
(f) 0.0006032 m2

Answer:

(a) 0.007 m2

The given value is 0.007 m2.

Only one significant digit. It is 7.

(b) 2.64 × 1024 kg

Answer:

The value is 2.64 × 1024 kg

For the determination of significant values, the power of 10 is irrelevant. The digits 2, 6, and 4 are significant
figures. The number of significant digits is 3.

(c) 0.2370 g cm–3

Answer:
 NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 -
Units and Measurements

The value is 0.2370 g cm–3

For the given value with decimals, all the numbers 2, 3, 7, and 0 are significant. The 0 before the decimal
point is not significant

(d) All the numbers are significant. The number of significant figures here is 4.

(e) 6, 0, 3, and 2 are significant figures. Therefore, the number of significant figures is 4.

(f) 6, 0, 3, and 2 are significant figures. The number of significant figures is 4.

2. 11. The length, breadth and thickness of a rectangular sheet of metal are 4.234 m, 1.005 m, and
2.01 cm, respectively. Give the area and volume of the sheet to correct significant figures.

Answer

Area of the rectangular sheet = length x breadth

= 4.234 x 1.005 = 4.255 m2= 4.3 m2

The volume of the rectangular sheet = length x breadth x thickness = 4.234 x 1.005 x 2.01 x 10-2 = 8.55 x
10-2 m3.

2.12 The mass of a box measured by a grocer’s balance is 2.30 kg. Two gold pieces of masses 20.15
g and 20.17 g are added to the box. What is

(a) the total mass of the box,

(b) the difference in the masses of the pieces to correct significant figures?

Answer:

The mass of the box = 2.30 kg

and the mass of the first gold piece = 20.15 g

The mass of the second gold piece = 20.17 g

The total mass = 2.300 + 0.2015 + 0.2017 = 2.7032 kg

Since 1 is the least number of decimal places, the total mass = 2.7 kg.

The mass difference = 20.17 – 20.15 = 0.02 g

Since 2 is the least number of decimal places, the total mass = 0.02 g.

2.13 A physical quantity P is related to four observables a, b, c and d as follows:

P=
 NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 -
Units and Measurements

The percentage errors of measurement in a, b, c and d are 1%, 3%, 4% and 2%, respectively. What is
the percentage error in the quantity P? If the value of P calculated using the above relation turns out
to be 3.763, to what value should you round off the result?

Answer:
 NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 -
Units and Measurements

2.14 A book with many printing errors contains four different formulas for the displacement y of a
particle undergoing a certain periodic motion:

(a) y = a sin (
 NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 -
Units and Measurements

Dimension of y = M0 L1 T0

The dimension of a = M0 L1 T0

Dimension of sin

Since the dimensions on both sides are equal, the formula is dimensionally correct.

(b) It is dimensionally incorrect, as the dimensions on both sides are not equal.

(c) It is dimensionally incorrect, as the dimensions on both sides are not equal.

(d) y =

2.15 A famous relation in physics relates ‘moving mass’ m to the ‘rest mass’ mo of a particle in terms
of its speed v and the speed of light, c (This relation first arose as a consequence of special relativity
due to Albert Einstein). A boy recalls the relation almost correctly but forgets where to put the
constant c. He writes :

m=
 NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 -
Units and Measurements

Answer:

The relation given is

2.16 The unit of length convenient on the atomic scale is known as an angstrom and is denoted by
Å: 1 Å = 10–10 m. The size of a hydrogen atom is about 0.5 Å. What is the total atomic volume in m3 of
a mole of hydrogen atoms?

Answer:

hydrogen atom radius = 0.5 A = 0.5 x 10-10 m

Volume =
 NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 -
Units and Measurements

= 0.524 x 10-30 m3

1 hydrogen mole contains 6.023 x 1023 hydrogen atoms.

Volume of 1 mole of hydrogen atom = 6.023 x 1023 x 0.524 x 10-30

= 3.16 x 10-7 m3.

2.17 One mole of an ideal gas at standard temperature and pressure occupies 22.4 L (molar volume).
What is the ratio of molar volume to the atomic volume of a mole of hydrogen (Take the size of the
hydrogen molecule to be about 1 Å)? Why is this ratio so large?

Answer:

Radius = 0.5 A = 0.5 x 10-10 m

Volume =

= 0.524 x 10-30 m3

1 hydrogen mole contains 6.023 x 1023 hydrogen atoms.

Volume of 1 mole of hydrogen atom = 6.023 x 1023 x 0.524 x 10-30

= 3.16 x 10-7 m3

Vm = 22.4 L = 22.4 x 10-3 m3

The molar volume is 7.1 x 104 times more than the atomic volume. Hence, the inter-atomic separation in
hydrogen gas is larger than the size of the hydrogen atom.

2.18 Explain this common observation clearly: If you look out of the window of a fast-moving train,
the nearby trees, houses etc., seem to move rapidly in a direction opposite to the train’s motion, but
the distant objects (hilltops, the Moon, the stars etc.) seem to be stationary (In fact, since you are
aware that you are moving, these distant objects seem to move with you).
 NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 -
Units and Measurements

Answer:

An imaginary line which joins the object and the observer’s eye is called the line of sight. When we observe
the nearby objects, they move fast in the opposite direction as the line of sight changes constantly, whereas
the distant objects seem to be stationary as the line of sight does not change rapidly.

2.19. The principle of ‘parallax’ in section 2.3.1 is used in the determination of distances of very
distant stars. The baseline AB is the line joining the Earth’s two locations six months apart in its
orbit around the Sun. That is, the baseline is about the diameter of the Earth’s orbit ≈ 3 × 1011m.
However, even the nearest stars are so distant that with such a long baseline, they show parallax
only of the order of 1” (second) of arc or so. A parsec is a convenient unit of length on the
astronomical scale. It is the distance of an object that will show a parallax of 1” (second of arc) from
opposite ends of a baseline equal to the distance from the Earth to the Sun. How much is a parsec in
terms of metres?

Answer

Diameter of Earth’s orbit = 3 × 1011 m

Radius of Earth’s orbit r = 1.5 × 1011 m

Let the distance parallax angle be θ=1″ (s) = 4.847 × 10–6 rad.

Let the distance of the star be D.

Parsec is defined as the distance at which the average radius of the Earth’s orbit subtends an angle of 1″

Therefore, D = 1.5 × 1011 /4.847 × 10–6= 0.309 x 1017

Hence 1 parsec ≈ 3.09 × 1016 m.

2. 20. The nearest star to our solar system is 4.29 light-years away. How much is this
distance in terms of parsecs? How much parallax would this star (named Alpha
Centauri) show when viewed from two locations of the Earth six months apart in its
orbit around the Sun?

Answer

1 light year is the distance travelled by light in a year.

1 light year = 3 x 108 x 365 x 24 x 60 x 60 = 9.46 x 1015 m

Therefore, distance travelled by light in 4.29 light years = 4.29 x 9.46 x 1015 = 4.058 x 1016 m

Parsec is also a unit of distance

1 parsec = 3.08 x 1016 m
Therefore, the distance travelled by light in parsec is given as

4.29 light years =4.508 x 1016/3.80 x 1016 = 1.318 parsec = 1.32 parsec

Using the relation,

θ=d/D
here,
 NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 -
Units and Measurements

d is the diameter of Earths orbit, d = 3 × 1011 m

D is the distance of the star from the earth, D = 405868.32 × 1011 m
∴ θ = 3 × 1011 / 405868.32 × 1011 = 7.39 × 10-6 rad
But the angle covered in 1 sec = 4.85 × 10–6 rad
∴ 7.39 × 10-6 rad = 7.39 × 10-6 / 4.85 × 10-6 = 1.52″

2.21 Precise measurements of physical quantities are a need for science. For example, to ascertain
the speed of an aircraft, one must have an accurate method to find its positions at closely separated
instants of time. This was the actual motivation behind the discovery of radar in World War II. Think
of different examples in modern science where precise measurements of length, time, mass etc., are
needed. Also, wherever you can, give a quantitative idea of the precision needed.

Answer:

Precise measurement is essential for the development of science. The ultra-short laser pulse is used for
measurement of time intervals. X-ray spectroscopy is used to find the interatomic separation. To measure
the mass of atoms, the mass spectrometer is developed.

2.23 The Sun is a hot plasma (ionised matter) with its inner core at a temperature exceeding 107 K,
and its outer surface at a temperature of about 6000 K. At these high temperatures, no substance
remains in a solid or liquid phase. In what range do you expect the mass density of the Sun to be, in
the range of densities of solids and liquids or gases? Check if your guess is correct from the
following data: a mass of the Sun = 2.0 × 1030 kg, the radius of the Sun = 7.0 × 108 m.

Answer:

Mass = 2 x 1030 kg

Radius = 7 x 108 m

Volume V =
 NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 -
Units and Measurements

The density is in the range of solids and liquids. Its density is due to the high gravitational attraction on the
outer layer by the inner layer of the sun.

2.24. When the planet Jupiter is at a distance of 824.7 million kilometres from the Earth, its angular
diameter is measured to be 35.72″ of arc. Calculate the diameter of Jupiter.

Answer:

Distance of the planet Jupiter from Earth, D= 824.7 million kilometres = 824.7 x 106 km

Angular diameter θ = 35.72 “= 35.72 x 4.85 x 10-6 rad

= 173.242 x 10-6 rad
Diameter of Jupiter d = θ x D= 173.241 x 10-6x 824.7 x 106 km
=142871 = 1.43 x 105 km

2.25. A man walking briskly in the rain with speed v must slant his umbrella forward, making an
angle θ with the vertical. A student derives the following relation between θ and v: tan θ = v and
checks that the relation has a correct limit: as v →0, θ →0, as
expected (We are assuming there is no strong wind and that the rain falls vertically
for a stationary man). Do you think this relation can be correct? If not, guess the
correct relation.

Answer

According to the principle of homogeneity of dimensional equations,

Dimensions of L.H.S. = Dimensions of R.H.S.

In relation v = tan θ, tan θ is a trigonometric function, and it is dimensionless. The dimension of v is [L1 T-1].
Therefore, this relation is incorrect.
To make the relation correct, the L.H.S. must be divided by the velocity of rain, u.

Therefore, the relation becomes

v/u= tan θ

This relation is correct dimensionally

2.26. It is claimed that two caesium clocks, if allowed to run for 100 years, free from any disturbance,
may differ by only about 0.02 s. What does this imply for the accuracy of the standard caesium clock
in measuring a time interval of 1 s?

Answer

Total time = 100 years = 100 x 365 x 24 x 60 x 60 s

Error in 100 years = 0.02 s

Error in 1 second=0.02/100 x 365 x 24 x 60 x 60
 NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 -
Units and Measurements

=6.34 x 10-12 s
The accuracy of the standard caesium clock in measuring a time-interval of 1 s is 10-12 s.

2.27. Estimate the average mass density of a sodium atom, assuming its size to be about 2.5 Å (Use
the known values of Avogadro’s number and the atomic mass of sodium). Compare it with the mass
density of sodium in its crystalline phase: 970 kg m–3. Are the two densities of the same order of
magnitude? If so, why?

Answer

The diameter of sodium= 2.5 A = 2.5 x 10-10 m

Therefore, the radius is 1.25 x 10-10 m

The volume of a sodium atom, V= (4/3)πr3

= (4/3) x (22/7) x (1.25 x 10-10) 3= 8.177 x 10-30 m3

Mass of one mole atom of sodium = 23 g = 23 x 10-3 kg

1 mole of sodium contains 6.023 x 1023 atoms

Therefore, the mass of one sodium atom, M= 23 x 10-3/6.023 x 1023= 3.818 x 10-26 kg

The atomic mass density of sodium, ρ= M/V

=3.818 x 10-26/8.177 x 10-30

= 0.46692 x 104= 4669.2 kg m-3

The density of sodium in its solid state is 4669.2 kg m-3, but in the crystalline phase, the density is 970 kg m-3.
Hence, both are in a different order. In the solid phase, atoms are tightly packed, but in the crystalline phase,
atoms arrange a sequence which contains a void. So, the density in the solid phase is greater than in the
crystalline phase.

2.28. The unit of length convenient on the nuclear scale is a fermi: 1 f = 10–15 m. Nuclear sizes obey
roughly the following empirical relation :
r = r0 A1/3
where r is the radius of the nucleus, A its mass number, and r0 is a constant equal to
about 1.2 f. Show that the rule implies that nuclear mass density is nearly constant
for different nuclei. Estimate the mass density of the sodium nucleus. Compare it with the average
mass density of a sodium atom obtained in Exercise. 2.27.

Answer:

The radius of the nucleus

r = r0 A1/3

ro = 1.2 f = 1.2 x 10-15 m

Considering the nucleus is spherical. Volume of nucleus

= 4/3 πr3 = 4/3 π [r0 A1/3]3 = 4/3 πr03A
Mass of nucleus = mA
m is the average mass of the nucleon.
 NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 -
Units and Measurements

A is the number of nucleons.

Nuclear mass density = Mass of nucleus/Volume of the nucleus
= mA/(4/3πr3) = 3mA/4πr3 = 3mA/4πr03A
= 3m/4πr03
Using m = 1.66 x 10-27 kg and ro = 1.2 f = 1.2 x 10-15 m in the above equation
= 3 x 1.66 x 10-27 /4 x 3.14 x ( 1.2 x 10-15)3= 4.98 x 10-27/21. 703 x 10-45= 2.29 x 1017 kg/m3
So, the nuclear mass density is much larger than the atomic mass density for a sodium atom we got in 2.27.

2.29. A LASER is a source of very intense, monochromatic, and unidirectional beam of light. These
properties of laser light can be exploited to measure long distances. The distance of the Moon from
the Earth has already been determined very precisely using a laser as a source of light. A laser light
beamed at the Moon takes 2.56 s to return after reflection at the Moon’s surface. How much is the
radius of the lunar orbit around the Earth?

Answer

Time taken for the laser beam to return to Earth after reflection by the Moon’s surface = 2.56 s

The speed of laser light is c = 3 x 108 m/s.

Let d be the distance of the Moon from the Earth,

The time taken by laser signal to reach the Moon, t = 2d/c

Therefore, d = tc/2 = (2.56 x 3 x 108)/2 = 3.84 x 108 m

2. 30. A SONAR (sound navigation and ranging) uses ultrasonic waves to detect and locate objects
underwater. In a submarine equipped with a SONAR, the time delay between the generation of a
probe wave and the reception of its echo after reflection from an enemy submarine is found to be
77.0 s. What is the distance of the enemy submarine? (Speed of sound in water = 1450 m s–1).

Answer:

Speed of sound in water,v = 1450 m s–1

The time between generation and the reception of the echo after reflection, 2t= 77.0 s

Time taken for the sound waves to reach the submarine, t = 77.0/2 = 38. 5 s

Then v = d/t

Distance of enemy submarine, d = tv

Therefore, d=vt=(1450 x 38. 5) =55825 m=55.8 x 103 m or 55.8 km.

2.31. The farthest objects in our Universe discovered by modern astronomers are so distant that
light emitted by them takes billions of years to reach the Earth. These objects (known as quasars)
have many puzzling features which have not yet been satisfactorily explained. What is the distance
in km of a quasar from which light takes 3.0 billion years to reach us?

Answer
 NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 2 -
Units and Measurements

Time taken by light from the quasar to reach the observer, t = 3.0 billion years = 3.0 x 109 years = 3.0 x 109 x
365 x 24 x 60 x 60 s

= 94608000 x 109 s

= 9.46 x 1016 m

Speed of light = 3 x 108 m/s

Distance of quasar from Earth = 3.0 x 108 x 9.46 x 1016 m
= 28.38 x 1024 m

2.32. It is a well-known fact that during a total solar eclipse-the disk of the moon almost completely
covers the disk of the Sun. From this fact and the information you can gather from examples 2.3 and
2.4, determine the approximate diameter of the moon.

Answer

From examples 2.3 and 2.4, we get the following data

Distance of the Moon from Earth = 3.84 x 108 m

Distance of the Sun from Earth = 1.496 x 1011 m

Sun’s diameter = 1.39 x 109 m

Sun’s angular diameter,θ = 1920″ = 1920 x 4.85 x 10-6 rad = 9.31 x 10-3 rad [1″ = 4.85 x 10-6 rad]

During a total solar eclipse, the disc of the moon completely covers the disc of the sun, so the angular
diameter of both the sun and the moon must be equal.

Therefore, the Angular diameter of the moon, θ = 9.31 x 10-3 rad

The earth-moon distance, S = 3.8452 x 108 m

Therefore, the diameter of the moon, D = θ x S

= 9.31 x 10-3 x 3.8452 x 108 m = 35.796 x 105 m