Question

using the data in the following table, calculate the time it takes for light to travel from the sun to each planet.
planet | approximate distance from the sun (kilometers) | approximate time for light to reach the planet (minutes)
mercury | 57,900,000 |
venus | 108,200,000 |
earth | 149,600,000 | 8.3
mars | 227,900,000 |
jupiter | 778,500,000 |
saturn | 1,434,000,000 |
uranus | 2,871,000,000 |
neptune | 4,495,000,000 |
example: earth
\\(\frac{149,600,000\text{ km}}{300,000\text{ km/s}} = 489.67\text{ sec} \div 60\text{ sec/min} = 8.3\text{ minutes}\\)

Explanation:

Step1: Calculate time for Mercury

Time = Distance / Speed. Distance for Mercury is \(57900000\) km, speed of light is \(300000\) km/s.
\(t=\frac{57900000}{300000}=193\) seconds. Convert to minutes: \(193\div60\approx3.2\) minutes.

Step2: Calculate time for Venus

Distance for Venus is \(108200000\) km.
\(t = \frac{108200000}{300000}\approx360.67\) seconds. Convert to minutes: \(360.67\div60\approx6.0\) minutes.

Step3: Calculate time for Mars

Distance for Mars is \(227900000\) km.
\(t=\frac{227900000}{300000}\approx759.67\) seconds. Convert to minutes: \(759.67\div60\approx12.7\) minutes.

Step4: Calculate time for Jupiter

Distance for Jupiter is \(778500000\) km.
\(t=\frac{778500000}{300000} = 2595\) seconds. Convert to minutes: \(2595\div60 = 43.25\) minutes.

Step5: Calculate time for Saturn

Distance for Saturn is \(1434000000\) km.
\(t=\frac{1434000000}{300000}=4780\) seconds. Convert to minutes: \(4780\div60\approx79.7\) minutes.

Step6: Calculate time for Uranus

Distance for Uranus is \(2871000000\) km.
\(t=\frac{2871000000}{300000}=9570\) seconds. Convert to minutes: \(9570\div60 = 159.5\) minutes.

Step7: Calculate time for Neptune

Distance for Neptune is \(4495000000\) km.
\(t=\frac{4495000000}{300000}\approx14983.33\) seconds. Convert to minutes: \(14983.33\div60\approx249.7\) minutes.

Answer:

Mercury: \(3.2\) minutes, Venus: \(6.0\) minutes, Mars: \(12.7\) minutes, Jupiter: \(43.25\) minutes, Saturn: \(79.7\) minutes, Uranus: \(159.5\) minutes, Neptune: \(249.7\) minutes.