To calculate the time taken by sunlight to reach the earth, we need to consider the distance between the sun and the earth.
Key information:
- The average distance between the sun and the earth is approximately 93 million miles (or 150 million kilometers).
- The speed of light is approximately 186,282 miles per second (or 299,792 kilometers per second).
Calculations:
1. Convert the distance between the sun and the earth to kilometers: 93 million miles * 1.60934 (conversion factor) = 149.6 million kilometers.
2. Divide the distance by the speed of light: 149.6 million kilometers / 299,792 kilometers per second = 499.004 seconds.
3. Convert seconds to minutes: 499.004 seconds / 60 seconds per minute = 8.31673 minutes (rounded to the nearest minute).
4. Since the question asks for the answer in minutes, the correct option is C: 8.3 minutes.
Answer:
The sunlight takes approximately 8.3 minutes to reach the earth.

Sunlight takes approximately 8.3 minutes to reach the Earth. This is known as the "speed of light" and is an important concept in physics.

Understanding the Speed of Light:
The speed of light is the fastest speed at which information can travel in the universe. In a vacuum, such as outer space, light travels at a constant speed of about 299,792 kilometers per second (km/s). This speed is denoted by the symbol 'c' in physics equations.

Calculation:
To calculate the time it takes for sunlight to reach the Earth, we need to know the distance between the Sun and the Earth. On average, the distance between the Sun and the Earth is about 149.6 million kilometers (km).

We can use the formula: Time = Distance / Speed

Plugging in the values:
Time = 149.6 million km / 299,792 km/s

Simplifying the calculation:
Time = 149.6 million / 299,792
Time = 498.65 seconds

Converting seconds to minutes:
Time in minutes = 498.65 seconds / 60 seconds/minute
Time in minutes = 8.31 minutes

Rounding to the nearest tenth:
Time in minutes = 8.3 minutes

Therefore, it takes approximately 8.3 minutes for sunlight to travel from the Sun to the Earth.

Explanation:
Sunlight travels at the speed of light, which is about 299,792 kilometers per second. This means that it can cover a vast distance in a short amount of time. The distance between the Sun and the Earth is about 149.6 million kilometers. By dividing this distance by the speed of light, we can calculate the time it takes for sunlight to reach the Earth. In this case, the calculation yields an answer of 8.3 minutes. This means that when we observe the Sun, we are seeing it as it appeared 8.3 minutes ago, as that is how long it takes for the light to travel to our eyes.