What is the approximate distance from Earth to the Sun in miles?

What is the approximate distance from Earth to the Sun in miles?

• A. About 39 million miles
• B. About 93 million miles
• C. About 150 million miles
• D. About 500 million miles

Answer: (B)

The distance used here is the average Earth–Sun distance, called 1 astronomical unit. That distance is about 93 million miles (roughly 150 million kilometers). The orbit isn’t a perfect circle, so the distance varies a bit: it’s closest to about 91 million miles and farthest around 94–95 million miles. So the approximate distance is best described as about 93 million miles. The other options miss this magnitude or mix up units (for example, 39 million miles is too small, 150 million miles corresponds to the kilometer value converted wrongly, and 500 million miles is far too large).

The distance used here is the average Earth–Sun distance, called 1 astronomical unit. That distance is about 93 million miles (roughly 150 million kilometers). The orbit isn’t a perfect circle, so the distance varies a bit: it’s closest to about 91 million miles and farthest around 94–95 million miles. So the approximate distance is best described as about 93 million miles. The other options miss this magnitude or mix up units (for example, 39 million miles is too small, 150 million miles corresponds to the kilometer value converted wrongly, and 500 million miles is far too large).