Question

The laser signal is beamed towards Venus from earth and its reflected signal is received 8.2 minutes later. Calculate the distance of Venus from earth.

Answer 1

D = distance between earth and venus

v = speed of the laser signal sent from earth towards venus = 3 x 10⁸ m/s

t = time taken by laser signal sent from earth towards venus to comes back to earth after hitting venus = 8.2 minutes = 8.2 x 60 seconds = 492 sec

d = total distance travelled by signal = distance from earth to venus + distance from venus to earth

d = D + D = 2 D

d = 2D

we know thhat

distance = speed x time

d = v t

2D = (3 x 10⁸) (492)

D =  (3 x 10⁸) (492)/2 = 7.4 x 10¹⁰ m