Question

Radio signals travel at a rate of 3 * 10 ^ 8 meters per second. How many seconds would it take for a radio signal to travel from a satellite to the surface of Earth if the satellite is orbiting at a height of 3.6 * 10 ^ 7 meters? (Hint: Time is distance divided by rate.)

(1 point)

8.3 seconds

1.2 * 10 ^ - 1 seconds

1.08 * 10 ^ 16 seconds

10.8 * 10 ^ 15 seconds

Answer 1

To find the time it takes for the radio signal to travel from the satellite to the surface of the Earth, we can use the formula Time = Distance/Rate.

The distance from the satellite to the surface of the Earth is given as 3.6 * 10^7 meters.

The rate of the radio signal is given as 3 * 10^8 meters per second.

Using the formula, the time it takes for the signal to travel can be calculated as:

Time = (3.6 * 10^7 meters) / (3 * 10^8 meters per second)

Simplifying, we can divide both the numerator and the denominator by 10^7:

Time = 3.6 / 3 * 10^1 / 10^8

Time = 1.2 * 10^-1 seconds

Therefore, the correct answer is:

1.2 * 10^-1 seconds