Drake Equation Essay
Write an essay in Microsoft Office form .doc .docx about your own version of the Drake Equation, evaluate information from sources, uncertainties, and give meaning to your result.
In the reading of Module 5 you learned about the characteristics of our solar system and how we have searched for other solar systems. In this weeks reading you get to explore how this could relate to how many civilizations might currently be in our galaxy. The textbook reference on this topic is in the gray box near the end of section 30.4 titled "The Drake Equation". (Follow link to access free open source book) Link is below, just copy link & paste.
– -> https://openstax.org/books/astronomy/pages/30-4-the-search-for-extraterrestrial-intelligence <–
Description of Task:
After you’ve read about the Drake Equation, you will create your own version of it with your own values and write an essay about the Drake Equation with your calculated result of how many communicating intelligent civilizations may exist in our galaxy. Choose values for each term, and in each case give a scientifically reasoned explanation for your choice (with references where appropriate). Comment briefly on the implications of your result for the number of civilizations in the galaxy, and its consistency with the fact that we have no direct evidence of other civilizations. Comment on the largest sources of uncertainty in each of your values. Comment on how those uncertainties might change in the near future.
Your essay should be in the range of 2 to 3 pages (500-1000 words) and include the value you chose for each term in the equation with an explanation of each one, and the result when they are multiplied together. The length is not as important as the content and addressing all parts of the assignment and supporting your claims with evidence. Review the rubric before the essay to understand how you will be evaluated.
The Drake equation must be included in the paper :
This equation below must be in a different font than the one you choose for this essay.
The equation is:
N = (R*) × (fp) × (ne) × (fl) × (fi) × (fc) × (L)N = (R*) × (fp) × (ne) × (fl) × (fi) × (fc) × (L)
The individual terms are:
N = number of civilizations in the Milky Way Galaxy that are capable of producing signals that we can detect on Earth
R* = the rate at which stars capable of supporting life form in our Galaxy
fp = the fraction of those stars that have a planet or planets
ne = the average number of planets per planetary system that have an environment that can support life
fl = the fraction of those planets that can support life on which life actually develops
fi = the fraction of those planets with life where intelligent life develops
fc = the fraction of those intelligent civilizations that develop technology for communication
L = the average lifetime of those civilizations that develop technology for communication
