The Drake Equation Number of CivilizationsN HP x f life x f civ x f now N HP the number of hospitable planets f life the fraction of hospitable planets that actually have live ID: 640974
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Aliens? Is There Intelligent Life Out Th..." is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
Aliens?Slide2
Is There Intelligent Life Out There?
The Drake Equation
Number of Civilizations=NHP x flife
x fciv x fnowNHP = the number of hospitable planetsf
life
= the fraction of hospitable planets that actually have livefciv = the fraction of life-bearing planets upon which a civilization capable of interstellar communication has at some time arisenfnow = the fraction of civilization-bearing planets that have a civilization nowSlide3
The Rare Earth Hypothesis
The conditions that make life on Earth possible are so rare that life likely does not exist elsewhere.
There’s a relatively thin galactic habitable zoneSlide4
The Rare Earth Hypothesis
2. There’s a relatively thin solar system habitable zoneSlide5
The Rare Earth Hypothesis
3
. The protection of JupiterJupiter’s gravity redirects comets away from Earth4. Climate stabilityJust the right mix of gasses in the atmosphereGasses are cycled
Example: Carbon dioxide would not cycle without plate tectonicsThe Earth’s large moon keeps the Earth’s tilt stableSlide6
The Rare Earth Hypothesis
What else makes intelligent life on Earth possible?
Characteristics of the SunSize of the EarthDistance of the Earth to SunSlide7
Even if other planets do exist that have all the right conditions for life, does that mean that life (or especially intelligent life)
will develop?