At its closest point, Mercury is approximately 46 million kilometers from the sun. What is this distance in AU (astronomical units)?
Answer (3)
1 astronomical unit 1 AU = 1.4960 * 10^11 meters it is the average distance between earth and sun mercury to sun distance is = 46,000,000 * 1000 meters = 4.6 * 10^9 meters = 4.6 * 10^9 / 1.4960 * 10^11 AU = 3.0.74 / 100 = 0.0374 AU
Explanation :
Astronomical unit is the unit to find the average distance between the earth and the sun.
1 A U = 1.496 × 1 0 8 K m
So, 1 K m = 1.496 × 1 0 8 1 A U
46 million kilometers means, 46 × 1 0 6 K m
46 × 1 0 6 K m = 1.496 × 1 0 8 46 × 1 0 6
46 mi ll i o n K m = 0.3074 A U
**Hence, this is the required solution. **
Mercury's closest distance from the Sun is about 46 million kilometers, which converts to approximately 0.3074 AU using the average distance of 1 AU (about 149.6 million kilometers).
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