Question

Astronomers measure large distances in light-years. One light-year is the distance that light can travel in one year, or approximately 5,880,000,000,000 miles. Suppose a star is 14.4 light-years from Earth. In scientific notation, how many miles away is it?

A.) 5.88*10^13 miles
B.) 8.4672*10^13 miles
C.) 1.44*10^12 miles
D.) 5.88*10^12 miles

Answer 1

Option B -
`=8.4672* 10^(13)`

Explanation:

Given : Astronomers measure large distances in light-years. One light-year is the distance that light can travel in one year, or approximately 5,880,000,000,000 miles.Suppose a star is 14.4 light years from earth.

To find : In scientific notation, how many miles away a star is from earth?

Solution :

One light-year is the distance that light can travel in one year is = 5,880,000,000,000 miles.

In scientific notation,
`5.88* 10^(12)` miles.

In 14.4 lights year the distance is
`=14.4*5.88* 10^(12)`

In 14.4 lights year the distance is
`=84.672* 10^(12)`

or
`=8.4672* 10^(13)`

Therefore, Option B is correct.