Calculating Earth-Sun Distance from Velocity and Time

[puregoodboi]

Hey guys


um


LIght from the Sun reaches Earth in 8.3 minutes .
The velocity of light is 3 x 10 (8) meters per second<- <pretend this is a power>. How far is Earth from the sun?


geez to get distance i have to multiply the speed vs the velocity

in the answer key it says the answer is 2.5 but i need to know the steps to get there.. would someone please help?

 

[Math Is Hard]

2.5 what? What units of measurement are you talking about?

 

[puregoodboi]

2.5 what? What units of measurement are you talking about?

talking about m/s metres per second

 

[Math Is Hard]

Meters per sec is a measurement of rate not distance. If we're talking about distance, you need a measurement in meters (or kilometers or miles,etc.)

 

[Math Is Hard]

Distance is equal to rate(velocity) multiplied by time. Can you give this a try? I would suggest converting minutes to seconds before getting started.

 

[puregoodboi]

how would u solve this answer then because evidently my answer key is wrong

 

[puregoodboi]

Distance is equal to rate(velocity) multiplied by time. Can you give this a try? I would suggest converting minutes to seconds before getting started.

in this case i'd have no problem doing it if not for the scientific notation how would i write that in a formula and solve it as well?

 

[puregoodboi]

the scientific notation is what throws me off and also it gets me thinkinga bout significant figures.. soo help? I'm so confused +__+

 

[Math Is Hard]

velocity is given as 3 x 10⁸ m/seconds
time is given as 8.3 minutes or 498 seconds

you just need to multiply these

 

[Math Is Hard]

OK, kiddo. I think you can take it from here. I am going to bed.

p.s. you can check your figures by googling "earth distance to sun"

toodles.

 

[recon]

Time X Velocity = Distance
s x m/s = m

where m = metre and s = second.

 

[HallsofIvy]

This is the second time you have posted this and you have been given a great deal of help. You say "in this case i'd have no problem doing it if not for the scientific notation". Okay, suppose the problem said that the speed of light was 3 meters per second and it took light 8.2 minutes to get to the earth. That has no scientific notation: what is the distance from the Earth to the sun given that?