# Speed of Light.....Solving A Word Problem..Help!

• October 1st 2008, 07:07 PM
Phresh
Speed of Light.....Solving A Word Problem..Help!
The speed of light is ${3 x 10^8 }$ m/sec. How long does it take light to travel the ${149 x 10^9}$ m distance from the sun to the earth?
• October 1st 2008, 07:09 PM
Chris L T521
Quote:

Originally Posted by Phresh
The speed of light is ${3 x 10^8 }$ m/sec. How long does it take light to travel the ${149 x 10^9}$ m distance from the sun to the earth?

speed is distance per unit time: $s=\frac{d}{t}$

Solving for t, we see that $t=\frac{d}{s}$

You know what s and d are; they are given to you in the problem.

Can you take it from here?

--Chris
• October 1st 2008, 07:22 PM
Phresh
okay umm i got 497 seconds is that correct?
• October 1st 2008, 07:31 PM
john11235
Quote:

Originally Posted by Phresh
okay umm i got 497 seconds is that correct?

Yep.
• October 1st 2008, 07:36 PM
Chris L T521
Quote:

Originally Posted by Phresh
okay umm i got 497 seconds is that correct?

Yup! which is about roughly 8 minutes.

--Chris