Viewed from afar,the transit of Earth would cause the Sun's brightness to dim by approximately one part in
A)100.
B)1,000.
C)10,000.
D)100,000.
E)a million.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

During a transit, the planet (in this case Earth) passes between the observer and the Sun. This causes a small decrease in the brightness of the Sun that can be detected with special instruments. The dimming effect is proportional to the size of the planet, so since Earth is relatively small compared to the Sun, the dimming effect is small as well. It is estimated to be around one part in 10,000, which is closest to answer choice C).

Viewed from Afar,the Transit of Earth Would Cause the Sun's