Question

1a. How long does it take light from the sun to reach Earth? (Show your math)

1b. How long does it take light from the sun to reach Pluto?

1c. If a star is 12 lightyears away, explain what this means?

1d. Are there flames on the sun? Explain the difference between astrology and astronomy and device a method so you will know them apart. (2-3 sentences)

Answer 1

a)
How long does it take light from the sun to reach Earth
Distance from sun to earth = 150 millions km
Speed of light = 3*10^8 m/s or 3*10^5 km/s

So, Time = Dist/Speed
= 500 sec

= 8 minutes and 20 seconds

b)
distance between Sun & Pluto is 5.91 billion kilometers.

Speed of light = 3*10^8 m/s or 3*10^5 km/s
So, Time = Dist/Speed
=> time = 5.5 hours

c)
a lightyear is the total distance covered by light in vacuum in one year

1 light year = distance covered by light in a year
So, if someone says that a star is 12 light years away, it simply means that light from that star takes 12 years to reach us.

d)
No,there are no flames on the sun.
Astronomy is the study of the universe and any objects outside the Earth's atmosphere including their motions, positions and properties. Astrology is the study of how those positions, motions, and properties affect people and events on Earth.