The light of the sun takes about ____ minutes to reach the earth.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 3: Eight.
Explanation:
- On average, it takes 8 minutes and 20 seconds (approximately 500 seconds) for sunlight to reach the Earth.
- Distance and Speed: The average distance between the Earth and the Sun is approximately 150 million kilometers (150,000,000 km). The speed of light is approximately 300,000 kilometers per second.
- Time Calculation: If we divide the distance by the speed of light ($t = d/v$), the result is approximately 499 to 500 seconds, which is equivalent to about 8.3 minutes.
- Variability: Since Earth's orbit is not perfectly circular but elliptical, the distance between the Sun and the Earth varies. Consequently, there may be a difference of a few seconds in the travel time (ranging from 8 minutes 10 seconds to 8 minutes 27 seconds).
Other Important Facts Related to the Universe and Light (Quick Revision):
- Moonlight: It takes merely 1.3 seconds for light reflected from the Moon to reach the Earth.
- Nearest Star: After the Sun, the closest star to Earth is Proxima Centauri. It takes approximately 4.24 years for light from there to reach the Earth.
- Light Year: This is a unit of distance measurement (not of time). The distance traveled by light in one year is called a 'light year'.
Important Questions for Upcoming Examinations:
Question: What is the speed of light in a vacuum?
Answer: 3 × 10⁸ meters per second.
Question: What is an 'Astronomical Unit'?
Answer: The average distance between the Earth and the Sun.
Question: By which process does sunlight reach the Earth?
Answer: Radiation.