Final answer:
The Earth's speed around the Sun is approximately 66,000 miles per hour, which can be converted to centimeters per day by using unit conversions. This speed is due to Earth's constant motion in its orbit around the Sun.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Earth travels around the Sun with a radius of 98 million miles (which is approximately 1.5 × 1011 meters). Since it takes one year for the Earth to complete this journey, we can use this information along with the formula for the circumference of a circle (C = 2πr) to find Earth's speed around the Sun.
Calculating the Speed in Miles per Hour
Using the provided conversion factor, we can determine that Earth travels at approximately 66,000 miles per hour around the Sun.
Calculating the Speed in Centimeters per Day
First, we need to convert the speed from miles per hour to centimetres per second. We know that:
- 1 mile = 160934 centimeters,
- 1 hour = 3600 seconds,
Therefore, converting 66,000 mph to centimetres per second involves multiplying by 160934 and dividing by 3600. Finally, we multiply the speed in centimetres per second by the total number of seconds in a day (86400) to get the speed in centimetres per day.
It is fascinating to recognize that though we travel this fast, we do not feel it due to Earth's gravitational pull and the lack of resistance in space.