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Home Q & A Board Science-Related Homework Help Physics
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o2blea o2blea
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11 years ago
The distance to the moon can be found with the help of mirrors left on the moon by astronauts. A pulse of light is sent to the moon and returns to Earth in 2.562 s. Using the defined speed of light, calculate the distance from Earth to the moon.Please help.
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#1
11 years ago
For the entire, two-way trip, the distance is:
d = ct

So the distance to the moon is just ct/2.

They give you the time.  Look up the speed of light (c)--it should be in your book.  Multiply and divide by 2.
wrote...
#2
11 years ago
c = 299792458  (speed of light in metres / sec)

rt = 2.562  (round trip)

ow = 2.562 / 2  (one way)  = 1.281 seconds

d = ow * c  (distance = time one way * speed of light)

d = 1.281 * 299792458  

d= 384034138.698 meters

distance is 384,034.14 kilometers to the moon as measured via laser light(non-vacuum) bouncing off a laser ranging retroreflector array left by Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong on July 21, 1969,
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