Acomet passes earth over its equator. pictures are taken of it from earth's north and south poles simultaneously. in these pictures, the position of the asteroid differs by 0.05°. how far away was the asteroid from earth when the pictures were taken?
a. 0.00087 earth diameters
b. 1,100 earth diameters
c. 45,000 earth diameters
d. 4,100,000 earth diameters

Option B. 1,100 Earth diameters

Solution:

Angular position of steroid,                           (given)

To calculate the distance of asteroid, we use parallax method given as:

                (1)

where,

From the relation:

l =

we get:

distance(d) or R =

distance(d) or R =

d =

distance, d =

Comparing it with Earth's diameter:

d =

Since, the value is close to 1,100 Earth diameters, therefore, option B is the right answer.

to treat tumors in the body