question archive Activity : Concept Application-Using The Drake Equation N = R x fp x ne x f1 x fi x fc x L In this activity, we will use estimation techniques to discover the number of existing extraterrestrial civilizations that possess the technology to communicate beyond their home planet
Activity : Concept Application-Using The Drake Equation N = R x fp x ne x f1 x fi x fc x L In this activity, we will use estimation techniques to discover the number of existing extraterrestrial civilizations that possess the technology to communicate beyond their home planet
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Activity : Concept Application-Using The Drake Equation
N = R x fp x ne x f1 x fi x fc x L
In this activity, we will use estimation techniques to discover the number of existing extraterrestrial civilizations that possess the technology to communicate beyond their home planet. Your task is to complete the table below and use those values to solve the Drake Equation in order to estimate the number of intelligent civilizations in the Milky Way. You might wish to review the Drake Equation Background Information Sheet before making your estimation. After you make the calculation, answer the reflection questions.
R - Number of target stars in the galaxy that:
- are second generation stars with heavy elements
- are hot enough to have a large habitable zone
- have a long enough lifetimes for life to develop
R =
fp - Fraction (percentage) of those stars with planets or planet systems.
Fp =
ne -Number of "Earth-like planets" in a planetary system that are at the right temperature for liquid water to exist (in the habitable zone).
Ne =
fl - Fraction (percentage) of Earth-like planets where life actually develops
Fl =
fi - Fraction (percentage) of Earth-like planets with at least one species of intelligent life
Fi =
fc - Fraction (percentage) of Earth-like planets where the technology to communicate beyond their planet develops
Fc =
L - "Lifetime" of communicating civilizations (years) - Note: This number must be divided by the age of the galaxy, 10 billion years, when you make your final calculation.
L =
N - Number of communicative civilizations
N =
Reflection Questions about the Drake Equation
N = R x fp x ne x f1 x fi x fc x L
A. What value did you get for the number of civilizations?
B. How does the value change if you double the lifetime of communicating civilizations?
C. How does the estimate change if we discover that only 1/3 of Sun-like target stars have planets?
D. How would you change your estimate if we discovered that early life developed on both Venus and Mars?
E. Determine the most reasonable maximum and minimum values that your group believes the terms fp, ne, f1, fi, and fc could have. Record your values for each term below.
F. Calculate the range of values for N that result from using the maximum and minimum values that your group recorded in the previous question.
G. Do the maximum and minimum values that you calculated make sense to your group? Explain why you think they might be too large, too small, or just right.
H. How many intelligent, communicating species in the galaxy do we actually know about? What then is the actual minimum value for N. (Hint it is not zero.) Explain your reasoning.
