The New Horizons probe that passed by Pluto during July 2015 is one of the fastest spacecraft ever assembled. It was moving at about 14 km/s when it went by Pluto. If it maintained this speed, how long would it take New Horizons to reach the nearest star, Proxima Centauri, which is about 4.3 light-years away? (Note: It isn't headed in that direction, but you can pretend that it is.)

Question

Leonel Melendez

Physics

3 June, 11:36

The New Horizons probe that passed by Pluto during July 2015 is one of the fastest spacecraft ever assembled. It was moving at about 14 km/s when it went by Pluto. If it maintained this speed, how long would it take New Horizons to reach the nearest star, Proxima Centauri, which is about 4.3 light-years away? (Note: It isn't headed in that direction, but you can pretend that it is.)

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Answers (1)

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Janiyah Wade · Answer 1

2.91 x 10¹² sec

Explanation:

d = distance of nearest star, Proxima Centauri = 4.3 ly = 4.3 x 9.46 x 10¹⁵ m

v = speed of new horizon probe = 14 km/hr = 14000 m/s

t = time taken for the new horizon probe to reach nearest star, Proxima Centauri = ?

Using the equation

d = v t

Inserting the values given

4.3 x 9.46 x 10¹⁵ = (14000) t

t = 2.91 x 10¹² sec