Question

1. choose the best answer.

how long does it take light from the sun to reach earth?
about 4 s
about 5 mo
about 3 hr
about 8 min

Explanation:

The speed of light is approximately \( 3\times10^{8}\, \text{m/s} \), and the average distance from the Sun to the Earth (astronomical unit) is about \( 1.5\times10^{11}\, \text{m} \). Using the formula \( t=\frac{d}{v} \) (time = distance / speed), we calculate \( t = \frac{1.5\times 10^{11}\, \text{m}}{3\times 10^{8}\, \text{m/s}}= 500\, \text{s}\approx 8.3\,\text{min} \). So the time for light to reach Earth from the Sun is about 8 minutes.

Answer:

about 8 min