Question

The nearest star to the Earth is the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, at a distance of 4.218 light-years. Convert this distance to barleycorns. (1barleycorn=1/3 inch.)

Answer 1

Explanation:

The nearest star to the Earth is the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, at a distance of 4.218 light-years.  

Light year is the unit of distance covered by the heavenly bodies. 1 light year is equal to :

$1\ light\ year=3.72\times 10^{17}\ inches$

So, $4.218\ light\ year=4.218\times 3.72\times 10^{17}\ inches$

$4.218\ light\ year=1.56\times 10^{18}\ inches$

We need to convert 4.218 light-years barley corns.  

Since, 1 barleycorn = 1/3 inch  

$1\ inch=3\ barleycorn$

$1.56\times 10^{18}\ inches=3\times 1.56\times 10^{18}=4.68\times 10^{18}\ barleycorn$

So, the nearest star to the Earth is at a distance of $4.68\times 10^{18}\ barleycorn$. Hence, this is the required solution.