Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: syhprum on 16/10/2017 21:00:30

Title: Why do astronomers use tiny units like ergs/sec for stellar events
Post by: syhprum on 16/10/2017 21:00:30

I have just been reading about the power emitted in the collision of two neutron stars the figure quoted was 3*10^41 ergs/sec why not 3*10^34 Watts ?

Title: Re: Why do astronomers use tiny units like ergs/sec for stellar events
Post by: 7anooch on 18/10/2017 18:33:28

Because they're using cgs units, not SI (where watts would be more correct). This is largely due to convention and also the fact that many equations simplify when stated in cgs units.

Title: Re: Why do astronomers use tiny units like ergs/sec for stellar events
Post by: Bored chemist on 18/10/2017 20:04:04

Most of the numbers they use  are so big they are written as powers of ten. If you are doing that, it hardy matters.
Is  3*10^41 harder to write than  3*10^34 ?