University of California, San Diego
Physics 11 - Survey of Physics

H. E. Smith  

Physics 11

The Scale of the Universe

From the size of the atomic nucleus, important for the fusion energy of the stars, at 10-15m, to the scale of the Universe as a whole ~ 1025m, the distance scales of interest in Astronomy span a factor of about 1040 -- 40 orders of magnitude!


  • Powers of ten a visual depiction of the scale of the Universe starting at 10 million l.y. from the Milky Way and zooming into the heart of the atom.

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    Conducted by Gene Smith, CASS/UCSD.
    Comments? You may send email to hsmith@ucsd.edu

    Prof. H. E. (Gene) Smith
    CASS   0424   UCSD
    9500 Gilman Drive
    La Jolla, CA    92093-0424



    Last updated: 30 September 1999