Chapter 2, Problem 55A

To determine

To Calculate: The distance from the sun to the earth.

Answer to Problem 55A

  $s=1.5\times {10}^{11}\text{m}$

Explanation of Solution

Given:

Time, $t=8.3\text{min}$

Speed of light, $v=3\times {10}^8\text{m/s}$

Formula used:

Distance, $s=v\times t$

Here,

  $v$ is the velocity

  $t$ is the time.

Conversion factor:

  $1\min =60\text{s}$

Calculation:

Distance can be calculated as:

  $\begin{array}{l}s=\left(3\times {10}^8\text{m/s}\right)\times \left(8.3\times 60\text{s}\right)\\ s=1.494\times {10}^{11}\\ s=1.5\times {10}^{11}\text{m}\end{array}$

Conclusion:

  $s=1.5\times {10}^{11}\text{m}$ is the distance from the sun to the earth.