During an experiment, a signal from a spaceship travels at the speed of light and reaches the ground station in one minute. What is the distance of the spaceship from the ground station?
1 3 × 10⁸ m
2 1.8 × 10¹⁰ m
3 3 × 10¹⁰ m
4 2.3 × 10¹⁰ m

Correct option is B

Correct Answer: (b)
Explanation
The signal travels at the speed of light.
Given:
· Speed of light, c = 3 × 10⁸ m/s
· Time taken = 1 minute = 60 s
Using the formula:
Distance = Speed × Time
Distance = (3 × 10⁸} × 60
= 180 × 10⁸
= 1.8 × 10¹⁰ m
Hence, the correct answer is Option (2).
Additional Information
• The speed of light in vacuum is 3 × 10⁸ m/s (3,00,000 km/s}.
• Electromagnetic waves such as light, radio waves and X-rays all travel at this speed in vacuum.
• Formula triangle:
· Distance = Speed × Time
· Speed = Distance ÷ Time
· Time = Distance ÷ Speed
• Light takes approximately:
· 1.3 seconds to reach the Moon from Earth.
· 8 minutes 20 seconds to reach Earth from the Sun.