In the context of astronomical distances, how long does it take light to travel $1 \text{light-year}$ in terms of $\text{Earth years}$?

• A. $1000$ Earth years
• B. $1$ Earth year
• C. $365$ Earth years
• D. $1$ Earth day

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the definition of a light-year: it is the distance that light travels in one Earth year.
2. Recall that the speed of light is approximately \(3 \times 10^{8} \text{ meters per second} \).
3. Calculate the distance light travels in one Earth year by multiplying the speed of light by the number of seconds in one Earth year: \( \text{distance} = \text{speed} \times \text{time} \).
4. Since a light-year is defined as the distance light travels in one Earth year, the time it takes light to travel one light-year is exactly one Earth year.
5. Therefore, the answer to how long it takes light to travel one light-year in terms of Earth years is one Earth year.