One of the nearest stars is Alpha Centauri, whose distance from Earth is 4.2 * 10¹⁶ m.How long does it take light to travel from Alpha Centauri to us? A) 1.25 seconds B) 8.3 minutes C) 4.4 years D) 560 years E) 6,200 years

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Light travels at a speed of approximately 3 x 10^8 meters per second. The distance to Alpha Centauri is 4.2 x 10^16 meters. Dividing the distance by the speed of light gives the time it takes for light to travel, which is about 4.4 years.

One of the Nearest Stars Is Alpha Centauri, Whose Distance