Math Problem: Where is Voyager 1?
| Levels |
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|---|---|
| Material Type |
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| Math Skills |
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| Heliophysics Big Ideas |
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| NGSS |
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| Heliophysics Topics |
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| Heliophysics Missions |
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| Material Cost per Learner | Free |
| Language | English |
Problem Set | Grades 6-12+ | In mid-November 2026, Voyager will pass beyond one light-day away from Earth. That means radio signals traveling at light speed will take about 24 hours to reach it, so that any command sent from Earth takes a full day to arrive, and any response takes another day to get back. So how far is Voyager 1 from Earth? In this engaging series of math problems, students are invited to break down the question of just how far away one light-day is using skills which are easily integrable into a classroom curriculum.
Credit: NASA