To find the time it takes for a light signal to travel from Earth to Mars, divide the distance by the speed of light. It takes approximately 3.0 x 10³ seconds for light to cover the distance given, which is option 1.
To calculate how long it takes for a light signal to travel from Earth to Mars, you can use the formula time = distance / speed. Here, the speed of light is given as 2.99 x 10¸ cm/sec, and the distance is 8.97 x 10±± cm. By dividing the distance by the speed of light, you get: time = (8.97 x 10±± cm) / (2.99 x 10¸ cm/sec) = 3.0 x 10³ sec
This calculation shows that it takes approximately 3.0 x 10³ seconds for a light signal to travel from Earth to Mars. This is the final answer and it corresponds to option 1.
In conclusion, the light signal takes approximately 3.0 x 10³ seconds to travel from Earth to Mars at the speed of light.