Question

The speed of light is 300,000,000 meters per second. The sun is approximately 2.3 x 10^11 meters from Mars. How many seconds does it take for light from the sun to reach Mars?

a) 7.67 seconds
b) 767 seconds
c) 7.67 x 10^10 seconds
d) 76,700 seconds

Answer 1

Calculating the time for light to travel from the sun to Mars involves dividing the distance by the speed of light, which results in 767 seconds.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the time it takes for light from the sun to reach Mars, we use the formula time = distance / speed. The speed of light is given as 300,000,000 meters per second (m/s), and the distance from the sun to Mars is approximately 2.3 x 1011 meters.

Time = Distance / Speed
Time = 2.3 x 1011 meters / 300,000,000 meters/second
Time = 767 seconds

Therefore, the correct answer is (b) 767 seconds.