Question - Calculating Light Year and Time Travel
Solution:
Let's solve the question in two parts as requested.(a) To show the distance light travels in one year, known as a light year, we need to multiply the speed of light by the number of seconds in a year.Speed of light = 3.00 x 10^8 metres per secondSeconds per minute = 60Minutes per hour = 60Hours per day = 24Days per year ≈ 365.25 (accounting for leap years)Seconds in a year = Seconds per minute x Minutes per hour x Hours per day x Days per yearSeconds in a year = 60 x 60 x 24 x 365.25Seconds in a year ≈ 31,557,600Distance light travels in one year = Speed of light x Seconds in a yearDistance ≈ 3.00 x 10^8 m/s x 3.15576 x 10^7 sDistance ≈ 9.46728 x 10^15 metresThis value is approximately 9.5 x 10^15 metres, as required.(b) To find the time, in seconds, that light takes to travel 180 metres, we use the formula:Speed = Distance / TimeTime = Distance / SpeedGiven distance = 180 metresSpeed of light = 3.00 x 10^8 metres per secondTime = 180 m / (3.00 x 10^8 m/s)Time = 1.80 x 10^2 m / 3.00 x 10^8 m/sTime = 0.60 x 10^(-6) secondsTime = 6.00 x 10^(-7) secondsTherefore, the light takes 6.00 x 10^(-7) seconds to travel 180 metres. This answer is already in standard form.
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