Question

The speed of light is 3 × 108 meters per second. It take 1.82 × 102 seconds for light to reach Mars. What is the distance, in meters, between the sun and Mars? A 4.82 x 1016 B 4.82 x 1010 C 5.46 x 1016 D 5.46 x 1010

Answer 1

D 5.46 x 10^10

Explanation:

Recall that speed is the rate of change of distance with time and may be expressed mathematically as

speed = Distance/time

Distance = speed * time

Hence given that the speed of light

= 3 × 10^8 meters per second

Time taken for light to travel between the given distance

= 1.82 × 10^2 seconds

substituting the given values

Distance = 3 × 10^8 * 1.82 × 10^2

= 5.46 * 10^(8+2)

= 5.46 * 10^10 meters