Question

A fathom is a unit of length, usually reserved for measuring the depth of water. A fathom is approximately 6 ft in length. Take the distance from Earth to the Moon to be 238,000 miles, and use the given approximation to find the distance in fathoms. (Enter a number with the correct number of significant figures.)

Answer 1

Answer:

209440×10³ fathom

Explanation:

1 fathom = 6 ft

$1\ mile=5280\ ft\\\Rightarrow 1\ ft=\frac{1}{5280}\ mile$

$6\ ft=\frac{6}{5280}\ mile$

$1\ fathom=\frac{6}{5280}\ mile\\\Rightarrow 1\ mile=\frac{5280}{6}\ fathom$

So,

$238000\ miles=238000\times \frac{5280}{6}\ fathom\\\Rightarrow 238000\ miles=209440000\ fathom$

Hence, the distance between Earth and Moon is 209440000 or 209440×10³ fathom