Answer to Question #152944 in Physics for Joseph

Question

An astronomical unit is the average distance Of The earth to the sun, approximately 150,000,000 km. The speed of light is about 3 X 10^8m/s. Express the _peed of light in terms of astronomical units per minute

Answer 1

Find how much time it will take to pass 150 000 000 000 m (1 AU) at the speed of light:

$$t=\frac{150\cdot10^9}{3\cdot10^8}=500\text{ s}.$$

Thus, the speed of light is 1 AU per 500 seconds. In other words, it is 1 AU in 500/60=8.33 min. In other words, it is 1 AU/8.33 min=0.12 AU/min.