Question

For related problem solving tips and strategies, you may want to view a Video Tutor Solution of Converting How many nanoseconds does it take light to travel 3.50 ft in vacuum?

Answer 1

Start with the speed of light in a vacuum. I will use the short notation "En" to mean "x 10^n".

(1) c = 186,000 miles/s

= 1.86 E5 miles/s. There are 5280 ft in a mile; therefore

= 5.28 E3 x 1.86 E5 ft/s = 9.82 E8 ft/s

To travel 3.5 ft would require:

(2) 3.5 ft / (9.82 E8 ft/s) = (3.5 / 9.82) E-8 s = 0.3564 E-8 s

One nanosecond = 1E-9 s. Changing 0.3564 E-8 s so that its exponent is E-9 =>

3.56 nano seconds