Question

The distance from the sun to the Andromeda galaxy is 1.2 x 10^19 miles. Light travels at a speed of 5.88 x 10^12 miles per year. How long does it take light to travel from the sun?

Answer 1

`2.04* 10^(6)\ years`

Explanation:

Given:

Distance from Sun to Andromeda galaxy (D) =
`1.2*10^(19)\ miles`

Speed of light (s) =
`5.88* 10^(12)\ miles\ per\ year`

Now, we need to find the time required for light to reach the galaxy from the Sun.

Let the time be 't' years.

Now, we know that, distance traveled by the light will be equal to the product of its speed and time taken by it. Therefore, framing in equation form, we get:

`Distance=Speed* Time\\\\D=s* t`

Now, plug in the given values and solve for time 't', This gives,

`1.2* 10^(19)=5.88* 10^(12)* t\\\\t=(1.2* 10^(19))/(5.88* 10^(12))\ years\\\\t=2.04* 10^(6)\ years`

Therefore, light will reach the Andromeda galaxy in
`2.04* 10^(6)\ years`.