Table 1.1

Question 1

Distance from the earth to the most remote known quasar

Answer 1

1.4 x 10^26 m

Question 2

Distance from the Earth to the most remote normal galaxies

Answer 2

9 x 10^25 m

Question 3

Distance from the Earth to the nearest large galaxy (M31, the Andromeda Galaxy)

Answer 3

2 x 10^22 m

Question 4

Distance from the Sun to the nearest star (Proxima Centauri)

Answer 4

4 x 10^16 m

Question 5

One light year

Answer 5

9.46 x 10^15 m

Question 6

Mean orbit radius of the Earth about the Sun

Answer 6

1.50 x 10^11 m

Question 7

Mean distance from the Earth to the moon

Answer 7

3.84 x 10^8 m

Question 8

Distance from the equator to the North Pole

Answer 8

1.00 x 10^7 m

Question 9

Mean radius of the Earth

Answer 9

6.37 x 10^6 m

Question 10

Typical altitude (above the surface) of a satellite orbiting the Earth

Answer 10

2 x 10^5 m

Question 11

Length of the football field

Answer 11

9.1 x 10^1 m

Question 12

Length of a housefly

Answer 12

5 x 10^-3 m

Question 13

Size of the smallest dust particles

Answer 13

~10^-4 m

Question 14

Size of cells of most living organisms

Answer 14

~ 10^-5 m

Question 15

Diameter of a hydrogen atom

Answer 15

~ 10^ -10 m

Question 16

Diameter of an atomic nucleus

Answer 16

~ 10 ^ -14 m

Question 17

Diameter of a proton

Answer 17

~ 10 ^ -15 m