How Long Does Light Take to Travel from the Sun to Earth?

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Light takes approximately 8.3 minutes to travel from the Sun to Earth, covering a distance of 1.5 x 10^11 meters at a speed of 3.0 x 10^8 m/s. The calculation involves using the formula t = d/v, where the distance is divided by the speed of light. A common point of confusion arises from handling exponents and basic arithmetic, particularly when converting the result from seconds to minutes. The correct approach involves recognizing that 0.5 x 10^3 equals 500 seconds, which converts to 8.3 minutes when divided by 60. Understanding the physics and math separately can help clarify such calculations.
bmack
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The speed of light is 3.0 x 10 exponent8 m/s. How Many minutes does it take for light to reach the Earth from the sun. Which is 1.5 x 10 exponent11 m away?

I know the formula is t=d/v
so ?=1.5 x 10 exponent11 m /3.0 x 10 exponent8 m/s

The answer is 500s=8.3min...I just don't know how to get this darn anwer and I am about to :cry: so please give me a clue:confused:

I am doing the steps but coming out with a different answer.
 
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bmack said:
I know the formula is t=d/v
so ?=1.5 x 10 exponent11 m /3.0 x 10 exponent8 m/s
So far, so good. How did you do that caculation? (Hint: Handle the exponents separately.)
 
I know what the formula is however, when I apply it I do not get the same answer that is in the book the The answer is 500s=8.3min is inthe answer key at the back pf my book...

Okay so I need to handle exponents separate. okay, I am getting 50exponent3 because when you divide exponents you subtract. I still need another clue.:rolleyes:
 
The exponent 3 is correct (which stands for 10^3), but what is 1.5/3.0? It's not 50!
 
it is 0.5 right?
 
bmack said:
it is 0.5 right?

Yes, that's right.
 
bmack said:
it is 0.5 right?
As hage567 already confirmed, you got it. Now put it together: 0.5e3

What's that equal to in plain old numbers (without the exponents)?
 
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I just don't know how to get this darn anwer and I am about to so please give me a clue
One thing that you should understand, bmack, is that you knew how to do the physics, but the math gave you some trouble. I think it's helpful in learning physics to keep the two things separate, and to know which half (the physics or the math) is giving you problems.

So good job! You got the physics part of the question right (identifying the distance-time equation). The rest is just plugging through the mathematics.
 
Good point, Saketh!
 
  • #10
duh!I can't believe it! 0.5 exponet 3 is 500 I see that I do have a problem with the math more than anything because I am trying to convert the 500 into minutes but I am still lost. I know .


Okay 500/60 is 8.3 right because there are 60s in a minute:rolleyes: I can't believe It took me this long to figure out.

thank you all. I guess I am not as dumb as I thought I was:-p
 

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