Question

4. The space shuttle travels at about 28,000 km per hour. Using that information, estimate how many hours it will take the shuttle to reach Saturn from Earth. (Assume both planets are aligned with the sun and are on the same side of the sun.) Show your work. Convert your answer into scientific notation if necessary.

Answer 1

Time = distance/speed. T = 1,200,000,000/28,000. This can be cancelled to 1,200,000/28. Rounding 28 to 30 for the estimate, divide by another ten: 120,000. Then divide by the remaining 3 from 30: 120,000/3 = 40,000. It will take approximately 40,000 hours.