Final answer:
A radio wave with a frequency of 900 MHz will travel a distance of 5.1 meters in 17 microseconds, as it moves at the speed of light.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine how far a radio wave travels in 17µs if it has a frequency of 900 MHz, we can use the concept that the speed of all electromagnetic waves in a vacuum, which includes radio waves, is approximately the speed of light, that is 3×108 meters per second. The frequency of the radio wave does not directly influence the speed at which it travels, which is a common misconception.
The distance traveled by a wave can be calculated using the formula:
Substituting the known values:
- Distance = (3×108 m/s) × (17µs)
- Distance = (3×108 m/s) × (17 × 10-6 s)
- Distance = 5.1 meters
Hence, a radio wave with a frequency of 900 MHz will travel 5.1 meters in 17 microseconds.