Using a telescope you detect an asteroid is moving towards Earth. The total time for radio waves transmitted to the space rock and back to Earth is 7 seconds. What is the approximate distance to the asteroid?

The approximate distance to the asteroid is 1,049,273.603 kilometres

Explanation:

Radio waves are waves due to electromagnetic radiation that travel at the speed of light, which is 299,792,458 m/s

The parameters given are;

Object detected moving towards Earth = An Asteroid

The total time for the radio waves to travel to the space rock and back  = 7 seconds

The speed of radio waves = 299,792,458 m/s

Speed = Distance/Time

The distance traveled by the radio wave in 7 seconds = 2 times the approximate distance to the asteroid, d

The distance traveled by the radio wave in 7 seconds = Time × Speed = 2×d

∴ 2×d = 7 s × 299,792,458 m/s = 2,098,547,206 meters

d = 2,098,547,206 meters/2 = 1,049,273,603 meters = 1,049,273.603 kilometres

The approximate distance to the asteroid = 1,049,273.603 kilometres.