How Far is Earth from the Sun if Light Takes 8.3 Minutes to Travel?

[puregoodboi]

ok so far i have

light from the sunr eaches Earth in 8.3 min.
The velocity of light is 3.00 x 10 to the eighth power m/s . How far is Earth from the sun


so far i have the formula Delta d ( avg distance) = v (velocity) x delta t(avg speed)

so far i converted 8.3 minutes = 8.3 x 60 = 498= 500 < -- do i use sig figs?


and my final equation became delta d = (3.00x10 to the eight power) x 500 = 1.5 x 10 to the eleventh power.. somehow i don't think its right.. because i looked at the answer key and it said 2.5 m/s please help me get the right steps

 

[Tide]

The speed of light is 3 \times 10^8 METERS per second.

 

[puregoodboi]

The speed of light is 3 \times 10^8 METERS per second.

yes and well? sorry lol

 

[Math Is Hard]

ok so far i have

light from the sunr eaches Earth in 8.3 min.
The velocity of light is 3.00 x 10 to the eighth power m/s . How far is Earth from the sun..

i don't think its right.. because i looked at the answer key and it said 2.5 m/s please help me get the right steps

why would the answer be in meters per second if you are trying to find distance? that doesn't make sense.

 

[ShawnD]

so far i converted 8.3 minutes = 8.3 x 60 = 498= 500 < -- do i use sig figs?

You're introducing round off errors way too soon. Only round the very final answer.

I get the same answer as you though.

 

[KaneOris]

Maybe the answer is written down wrong, the closer the figures to c, and when not rounding 498, you get even less than 1.5. About, 1.443 or so

 

[BobG]

ok so far i have

light from the sunr eaches Earth in 8.3 min.
The velocity of light is 3.00 x 10 to the eighth power m/s . How far is Earth from the sun


so far i have the formula Delta d ( avg distance) = v (velocity) x delta t(avg speed)

so far i converted 8.3 minutes = 8.3 x 60 = 498= 500 < -- do i use sig figs?


and my final equation became delta d = (3.00x10 to the eight power) x 500 = 1.5 x 10 to the eleventh power.. somehow i don't think its right.. because i looked at the answer key and it said 2.5 m/s please help me get the right steps

Are you sure you looked at the right question in the answer key? Your answer is correct. The question asks for distance and 2.5 m/s is a measure of velocity, so the answer key can't be correct.