Solar System Distances Quick Check
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Question
Why do astronomers use astronomical units (AU) instead of kilometers (km)?(1 point)
Responses
AU is used for spacing, while km is used for length.
AU is used for spacing, while km is used for length.
AU is used in astronomy, while km is used in physics.
AU is used in astronomy, while km is used in physics.
Large distances are easier to express in AU than in km.
Large distances are easier to express in AU than in km.
There are no km in outer space, only AU.
I apologize for the incorrect response. The correct answer is:
AU is used for spacing, while km is used for length.
Large distances are easier to express in AU than in km.
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Large distances are easier to express in AU than in km.
The correct answer is: Large distances are easier to express in AU than in km.
Astronomers use astronomical units (AU) instead of kilometers (km) because the distances in space are extremely vast and can be difficult to comprehend in terms of kilometers. An astronomical unit is a unit of length defined as the average distance between the Earth and the Sun, approximately 149.6 million kilometers (93 million miles).
Using AU allows astronomers to simplify the representation of distances in the solar system. For example, instead of saying that the distance from the Earth to Mars is about 78,340,000 kilometers, they can simply state that it is approximately 0.524 AU. This makes it easier to compare distances between different celestial bodies and visualize the scale of the solar system.
While kilometers are still used in various scientific disciplines, such as physics, astronomy often relies on using astronomical units for its measurement of distances within the solar system.