HINT:#
The question is asking for the distance traveled by a knot moving at constant velocity.
HINT:#
The problem tells us what the rate of travel is per unit time (velocity) and the length of time over which we want to calculate the distance traveled by the knot.
HINT:#
The distance traveled by an object at constant speed is equal to
d = v * t
HINT:#
v = 5000 km/sec
t = 10 years
HINT:#
Let's use unit analysis:
d(km) = v(km/s) * t(years)
Since we want our answer in kilometers, we will have to convert years to seconds so that seconds will cancel in our calculation of velocity times time.
Note: we will assume that we are dealing with earth years!
10 (years) * 365.25 (days/year) * 24 (hours/day) * (60 minutes/hour) * (60 seconds/minute) = 3.16 x 108 s
HINT:#
d = 5000 km/s * 3.16 x 108 s = 1.58 x 1012 km

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