Question

the average distance from the sun to mercury is 57,909,227 km. the average distance from the sun to saturn is 1,426,666,422 km. light travels at a speed of about 300,000 km per second. which amount of time is the closest estimate of the difference between the number of minutes it takes light to travel from the sun to saturn and the number of minutes it takes light to travel from the sun to mercury?
a. 50 minutes
b. 80 minutes
c. 110 minutes
d. 140 minutes

Explanation:

Step1: Calculate distance difference

$\Delta d = 1,426,666,422 - 57,909,227 \approx 1,368,757,195$ km

Step2: Find time in seconds

$t_{\text{sec}} = \frac{\Delta d}{300,000} \approx \frac{1,368,757,195}{300,000} \approx 4562.52$ sec

Step3: Convert to minutes

$t_{\text{min}} = \frac{4562.52}{60} \approx 76.04$ minutes

Answer:

B. 80 minutes