2007-10-29 15:55:26 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
lights years are not a form of years such as century, decde millenium etc. Instead it is a form of distance. Light years is the distance that light can travel in one whole year. So if light can travel roughly 3x10^8 metres in one second, how far do you think it will be able to travel in a whole year?
Well the answer is 9,460,730,472,580.8 km
2007-10-29 16:01:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a trick question. Like the first posters said, light year is a distance through space, not a distance through time. On the other hand, just like some people say they live "ten minutes" from town rather than "seven miles" from town, you could use a speed to relate the two. For example, like travels a light year in a year (hence the name) so you could argue that a light year is a year in time. On the other hand, if you travel at the speed of light, time stops which means it would take you NO time to travel a light year. Of course, a real rocket would take an extremely long time to travel a light year.
2007-10-29 23:17:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Despite the word "year" in "light year" it is a measure of distance, not time. It is a little less than 6 trillion miles. It is the distance light would travel in a year. Since light never speeds up or slows down, the distance never changes. Light always goes the same distance in one year.
2007-10-29 23:10:09 · answer #3 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
(sigh) How many times have we seen this question asked here in Yahoo. But how many people actually use the Search function to read what we spend our time answering.
Or why not just take a few seconds on wikipedia.
A light year is NOT A PERIOD OF TIME.
A light year is a DISTANCE - the distance light travels in one Earth year. Its about 9 trillion kilometers or 6 trillion miles.
2007-10-29 23:16:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
One.... Light years are about distance. A light year is how far light travels in one year. Doesnt have anything to do with a length of time other than just being one year....
2007-10-29 22:59:28 · answer #5 · answered by ethx1138 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best way to describe 'one light year' is: the distance light travels in one earth year at a speed of 186,000 miles a second.
2007-10-30 02:39:51 · answer #6 · answered by Tracy Terry 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Light years are distances ( the distance light can travel in a year) therefore there is no answer to your question.
2007-10-29 23:01:41 · answer #7 · answered by K 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋