Answer:
The approximate distance to the asteroid is 1,049,273.603 kilometres
Step-by-step explanation:
Radio waves are waves due to electromagnetic radiation that travel at the speed of light, which is 299,792,458 m/s
The parameters given are;
Object detected moving towards Earth = An Asteroid
The total time for the radio waves to travel to the space rock and back = 7 seconds
The speed of radio waves = 299,792,458 m/s
Speed = Distance/Time
The distance traveled by the radio wave in 7 seconds = 2 times the approximate distance to the asteroid, d
The distance traveled by the radio wave in 7 seconds = Time × Speed = 2×d
∴ 2×d = 7 s × 299,792,458 m/s = 2,098,547,206 meters
d = 2,098,547,206 meters/2 = 1,049,273,603 meters = 1,049,273.603 kilometres
The approximate distance to the asteroid = 1,049,273.603 kilometres.