An asteroid is heading toward Mars at the rate of 7.7×104 mi./hr. If the asteroid is 3.311×108 miles away from Mars, how many hours will it be before it hits Mars? Write the answer in scientific notation, expressed to the exact decimal place.(1 point)
To find the number of hours it will take for the asteroid to hit Mars, we can divide the distance between the asteroid and Mars by the speed of the asteroid:
Number of hours = Distance / Speed
Number of hours = (3.311×10^8 mi) / (7.7×10^4 mi/hr)
We divide the distance 3.311×10^8 mi by the speed 7.7×10^4 mi/hr:
Number of hours = (3.311 / 7.7) * 10^(8-4) hours
Number of hours = 0.42948 * 10^4 hours
Expressing this in scientific notation to the exact decimal place gives:
Number of hours = 4.2948 × 10^3 hours