Question

The nearest star to the Earth is the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, at a distance of 4.218 light-years. Convert this distance to barleycorns. (1barleycorn=1/3 inch.)

Answer 1

Explanation:

The nearest star to the Earth is the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, at a distance of 4.218 light-years.

Light year is the unit of distance covered by the heavenly bodies. 1 light year is equal to :

`1\ light\ year=3.72* 10^(17)\ inches`

So,
`4.218\ light\ year=4.218* 3.72* 10^(17)\ inches`

`4.218\ light\ year=1.56* 10^(18)\ inches`

We need to convert 4.218 light-years barley corns.

Since, 1 barleycorn = 1/3 inch

`1\ inch=3\ barleycorn`

`1.56* 10^(18)\ inches=3* 1.56* 10^(18)=4.68* 10^(18)\ barleycorn`

So, the nearest star to the Earth is at a distance of
`4.68* 10^(18)\ barleycorn`. Hence, this is the required solution.