222k views
5 votes
If the star alpha centauri, 4.37 light-years distant from the earth, were to explode this instant, when would we be aware of this event?

1 Answer

2 votes
A light year is a unit for length that is used for very great distances. This is approximately equal to 9.4607 x 10^12 km. Multiplying this distance to 4.37 will give us an answer of 4.134 x 10^13 km. Dividing this by the speed of light, 3 x 10^8 m/s will give us an answer of,
137810863.3 s
Also equal to 4.37 years.
User Shawndumas
by
7.5k points