Final answer:
The time it takes for a message to travel from Earth to a spacecraft on Mars depends on the distance between the planets and the speed of light. At the closest distance of 56 million km, it would take about 3 minutes and 7 seconds, while at the farthest distance of 400 million km, it would take about 22 minutes and 13 seconds.
Step-by-step explanation:
In general, the time it takes for a message to travel from Earth to a spacecraft on Mars depends on the distance between the two planets and the speed of light. The distance between Earth and Mars varies depending on their positions in their respective orbits, with the closest distance being about 56 million km and the farthest distance being about 400 million km.
At the closest approach distance of 56 million km, it would take light about 3 minutes and 7 seconds to travel from Earth to Mars. This is because light travels at a speed of approximately 300,000 km/s.
At the maximum distance of 400 million km, it would take light about 22 minutes and 13 seconds to travel from Earth to Mars. This calculation can be done by dividing the distance by the speed of light.