Measure: The Small and The Big
Clip: Special | 1m 4sVideo has Closed Captions
What is a light-year?
Scientists have special terms for measuring very small and very large distances. Find out the long and the short of it.
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Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Science Trek is a local public television program presented by IdahoPTV
Major Funding by the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation and the Idaho National Laboratory. Additional Funding by the Friends of Idaho Public Television and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Measure: The Small and The Big
Clip: Special | 1m 4sVideo has Closed Captions
Scientists have special terms for measuring very small and very large distances. Find out the long and the short of it.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Where to Watch Science Trek
Science Trek is available to stream on pbs.org and the PBS app.
Science Trek
Science Trek is a place where parents, kids, and educators can watch short, educational videos on a variety of science topics. Every Monday Science Trek releases a new video that introduces children to math, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) career potentials in a fun, informative way.[MUSIC] Joan Cartan-Hansen, Host: Scientists have special terms for measuring very small and very big distances.
A micron is one millionth of a meter.
Some bacteria are a few microns across.
A nanometer is one billionth of a meter.
The DNA inside the cells of your body are about two nanometers across.
A picometer is one trillionth of a meter.
A hydrogen atom is about 25 picometers across.
In space, distances are so vast that we measure them in astronomical units and light years.
One astronomical unit, or a-u equal 93 million miles, the distance from the Earth to the Sun.
So, Mars, for example, is 1 point 5-2 astronomical units from the Sun.
A light-year is how far light travels in one year.
A light-year is 60 thousand astronomical units.
The Sun's closest star is Alpha Centauri, and it's 4 point 4 light years away.
For more information check out the Science Trek website.
You'll find it at science trek dot org.
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Science Trek is a local public television program presented by IdahoPTV
Major Funding by the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation and the Idaho National Laboratory. Additional Funding by the Friends of Idaho Public Television and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.