The space shuttle, Endeavor, is launched to altitude of 500 km above the surface of the earth. The shuttle travels an average rate of 700 m/s. How long will it take for Endeavor to reach its orbit?

1 Answer
May 22, 2017

Approximately #700# seconds.

Explanation:

There are #1000# metres in a kilometre, so #500# km is #500000# m.

So if the figures #500# km and #700# m/s were exact, then the exact time taken would be:

#(500xx1000)/700 = 714.bar(285714)# seconds

Since both original figures are only given to one significant digit, it is probably better to say: approximately #700# seconds.