Mercury is 5.79 x 10^7 km from the sun. Light travels at a speed of 3.0 x 10^5 km/s. How long would it take for light to travel from the sun to Mercury? I have to answer this problem using scientific notation.

Answer 1

If I wanted to walk 10 miles at 5mph, how long would it take?

This is just the same. Don't let the fancy numbers get in the way.

time = distance/speed

5.79E7 km / 3.0E5 km/sec = 1.93E2 sec

Answer 2

Write the distance mercury from the Sun in standard form