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ashlayy101
Sep 2, 2010, 05:40 PM
A space probe of the surface of Mars sends a radio signal back to the
Earth,a distance of 8.86 x 1010 km. Radio waves travel at the
speed of light (3.00 x 108 m/s).


(a) How far away is the space probe?
I got this answer
8.86 x 10=88.6

I just can not figure out B or C! I was getting help on here last night but still no luck! Can someone please help me!

(b) How many seconds does it take for the signal to reach the Earth?


(c) How many hours is this?

Unknown008
Sep 3, 2010, 09:51 AM
You still haven't figured out the first one I see :rolleyes:

I think I'll get a picture instead.

http://p1cture.me/images/15900274246797499279.png

Remember,

1 km = 1000 m

The red dot is the probe on Mars. What is the distance from the Earth to the red dot?

BillRussell
Sep 30, 2010, 12:47 PM
Dimensional analysis is a great tool for this type of problem.

And your answer is not correct, if only because it has no units. Also, please use exponentiation notation (or e operator) to avoid confusion.

(a) you already have the answer, it's in the question, 8.86e10 km or 8.86e13 meters

(b) 8.86e13 m / 3e8 m/s = 295 seconds

(c) you should be able to do this.

b