Final answer:
The time it takes for a radio signal to travel from a satellite to the Earth's surface, given the speed of radio signals and the satellite's orbit height, is calculated as 1.2 × 10⁻¹ seconds.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the time it takes for a radio signal to travel from a satellite to the surface of the Earth, we use the formula:
Time = Distance / Speed
Given that the radio signals travel at a rate of 3 × 10⁸ meters per second, and the satellite is orbiting at a height of 3.6 × 10⁷ meters, we can plug these values into our formula:
Time = (3.6 × 10⁷ meters) / (3 × 10⁸ meters per second)
Time = (3.6/3) × 10⁷⁻⁸ seconds
Time = 1.2 × 10⁻¹ seconds
Therefore, the correct answer is B.) 1.2 × 10⁻¹ seconds.