Question

(a) Calculate the distance that light travels in 0.5 seconds, and express the answer in units of the circumference of the earth. The equatorial circumference of the earth is 4.01 x 10^7 m. (b) Now let's calculate how much time is required for light to travel 5 m distance.

Answer 1

Answer:

a)  3.74 circumference of earth

b)1.67× 10⁻⁸ sec

Explanation:

a) given,

time =  0.5 second

distance = speed  × time

              = 3 x 10⁸ × 0.5  

              = 1.5 × 10⁸ m

circumference of earth = 40075 km

                                       = 4.01 × 10⁷m

distance with respect to circumference=$\dfrac{1.5 \times 10^8}{4.01 \times 10^7}$

                                                                 = 3.74 circumference of earth

b) distance = 5 m

time =$\dfrac{distance}{speed}$

        =$\dfrac{5}{3\times 10^8}$

        = 1.67× 10⁻⁸ sec