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Ch.1 - Introduction: Matter, Energy, and Measurement
Brown - Chemistry: The Central Science 14th Edition
Brown14th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780134414232Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksBrown 14th EditionCh.1 - Introduction: Matter, Energy, and MeasurementProblem 73c
Chapter 1, Problem 73c

The distance from Earth to the Moon is approximately 240,000 mi. (c) The speed of light is 3.00 ⨉ 108 m/s. How long does it take for light to travel from Earth to the Moon and back again?

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1
Convert the distance from miles to meters using the conversion factor: 1 mile = 1609.34 meters.
Calculate the total distance for a round trip by multiplying the one-way distance by 2.
Use the formula for time: \( t = \frac{d}{v} \), where \( d \) is the total distance and \( v \) is the speed of light.
Substitute the total distance in meters and the speed of light \( 3.00 \times 10^8 \) m/s into the formula.
Solve for \( t \) to find the time it takes for light to travel to the Moon and back.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Speed of Light

The speed of light in a vacuum is a fundamental constant of nature, approximately 3.00 × 10^8 meters per second. This speed is crucial for calculating how long it takes for light to travel a given distance, as it represents the maximum speed at which information or matter can travel in the universe.
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Distance Measurement

In this context, the distance from Earth to the Moon is given as approximately 240,000 miles. To perform calculations involving the speed of light, it is essential to convert this distance into meters, as the speed of light is expressed in meters per second. Knowing the correct units is vital for accurate calculations.
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Time Calculation

To determine the time it takes for light to travel a certain distance, the formula time = distance/speed is used. In this case, the total distance for a round trip to the Moon is twice the one-way distance. By applying this formula, one can find the time taken for light to make the journey to the Moon and back.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

The distance from Earth to the Moon is approximately 240,000 mi. (a) What is this distance in meters?

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Textbook Question

The U.S. quarter has a mass of 5.67 g and is approximately 1.55 mm thick.(d) The U.S. National Debt Clock showed the outstanding public debt to be \$16,213,166,914,811 on October 28, 2012. How many stacks like the one described would be necessary to pay off this debt?

Textbook Question

The distance from Earth to the Moon is approximately 240,000 mi. (d) Earth travels around the Sun at an average speed of 29.783 km/s. Convert this speed to miles per hour.

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Textbook Question
Which of the following would you characterize as pure or nearly pure substance? (a) stomach acid; (b) dry ice; (c) ice-cream; (d) stainless steel; (e) petroleum; (f) distilled water; (g) carbon monoxide gas; (h) compressed air in balloon.
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Textbook Question

Give the derived SI units for each of the following quantities in base SI units: (g) energy = mass × (velocity)2

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Textbook Question

Give the derived SI units for each of the following quantities in base SI units: (e) power = work/time

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