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

**Phresh** · October 1st 2008, 07:07 PM

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?

**Chris L T521** · October 1st 2008, 07:09 PM

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

**Phresh** · October 1st 2008, 07:22 PM

okay umm i got 497 seconds is that correct?

**john11235** · October 1st 2008, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by Phresh

okay umm i got 497 seconds is that correct?

Yep.

**Chris L T521** · October 1st 2008, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by Phresh

okay umm i got 497 seconds is that correct?

Yup! which is about roughly 8 minutes.

--Chris

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