This topic contains a solution. Click here to go to the answer

Author Question: Describe the reasoning leading to the idea that the number of technological civilizations in the ... (Read 67 times)

Cooldude101

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 557
Describe the reasoning leading to the idea that the number of technological civilizations in the galaxy is equal to the average lifetime of a technological civilization.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Name each of the factors in the Drake equation.
 
  What will be an ideal response?



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
Marked as best answer by a Subject Expert

kkenney

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 352
Answer to Question 1

We know the rate of star formation, about 10 stars per year. Based on observations, we make a reasonable guess that there is one inhabitable planet in every 10 star systems. The factors involving the chance of intelligent, technological life arising, we assign the maximum possible value of 1. The only factor we have no reasonable guess for is the lifetime of a technological civilization. So one times this is the number of civilizations we can expect to find.

Answer to Question 2

Number of technical civilizations is equal to:
average rate of star formation in the Galaxy
fraction of stars with planets
average number of planets suitable for life
fraction of planets on which life arises
fraction of these where life rises to intelligence
fraction of these where the intelligence develops technology
average life span of these technical civilizations.




kkenney

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 352

 

Did you know?

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA was discovered in 1961 in the United Kingdom. It if often referred to as a superbug. MRSA infections cause more deaths in the United States every year than AIDS.

Methicilli ...
Did you know?

Signs and symptoms that may signify an eye tumor include general blurred vision, bulging eye(s), double vision, a sensation of a foreign body in the eye(s), iris defects, limited ability to move the eyelid(s), limited ability to move the eye(s), pain or discomfort in or around the eyes or eyelids, red or pink eyes, white or cloud spots on the eye(s), colored spots on the eyelid(s), swelling around the eyes, swollen eyelid(s), and general vision loss.

Did you know?

When Gabriel Fahrenheit invented the first mercury thermometer, he called "zero degrees" the lowest temperature he was able to attain with a mixture of ice and salt. For the upper point of his scale, he used 96°, which he measured as normal human body temperature (we know it to be 98.6° today because of more accurate thermometers).

Did you know?

By definition, when a medication is administered intravenously, its bioavailability is 100%.

Did you know?

Sperm cells are so tiny that 400 to 500 million (400,000,000–500,000,000) of them fit onto 1 tsp.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library