Light travels at 3.00 times 10^8 m/s. how long does it take light to travel from the sun to the earth(in units of minutes), a distance of 1.47 * 10^8km

Answer 1

Light travels at 3.00x10⁸ m/s. How long does it take light to travel from the sun to the earth (in minutes), a distance of 1.47x10⁸ km

Relationship needed: Speed = ^distance/_time

Given: speed of light = 3.00x10⁸ m/s

distance = 1.47x10⁸ km

Asked: time = ? min

1) Rearrange the equation to solve for time

2) Convert the distance to m using dimensional analysis so that units cancel

3) Solve for time

4) Convert time from s → min

1) speed = ^distance/_time or speed ∗ time = distance or time = ^distance/_speed

2) 1.47x10⁸ km ∗ ^{1000 m}/_{1 km} = 1.47x10¹¹ m

3) time = ^{1.47x1011 m}/_3.00x108 _m/s = 490 s

4) 490 s ∗ ^{1 min}/_{60 s} = 8.17 min