alleryStart learning →The sun is 1.50 x 10^8 km from Earth. Using c = 3.00 x 10^8 m/s, how long does light take to travel from the sun to Earth?
A50.0 s
B125 s
C500 s
D1500 s
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. 500 s
1. Time equals distance divided by speed, t = d divided by v.
2. Convert the distance to metres: 1.50 x 10^8 km equals 1.50 x 10^11 m.
3. Divide by the speed of light: t = 1.50 x 10^11 divided by 3.00 x 10^8.
4. Dividing gives t = 500 s, which is 8 minutes and 20 seconds.
5. 50.0 s and 125 s are too small, and 1500 s is three times too large.
6. So 500 s is correct.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 10 "Special Relativity", section 10.1 Postulates of Special Relativity_
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