The nearest star to our sun is Proxima Centauri, at a distance of 4.3 light years from the sun. A light year is the distance that light travels in one year (365 days). How far away, in kilometres, is Proxima Centauri from the sun?

To calculate the distance to Proxima Centauri in kilometers, we need to know the distance light travels in one year, which is defined as one light-year. 

### Step 1: Distance Light Travels in One Year
The speed of light, \( c \), is approximately:
\[
c = 299,792 \, \text{km/s}
\]

There are:
- \( 60 \) seconds in a minute
- \( 60 \) minutes in an hour
- \( 24 \) hours in a day
- \( 365 \) days in a year

So, the total number of seconds in a year is:
\[
\text{Seconds per year} = 60 \times 60 \times 24 \times 365 = 31,536,000 \, \text{seconds}
\]

### Step 2: Calculate One Light-Year in Kilometers
Using the speed of light, the distance that light travels in one year is:
\[
\text{Distance of one light-year} = 299,792 \, \text{km/s} \times 31,536,000 \, \text{s} = 9.454 \times 10^{12} \, \text{km}
\]

### Step 3: Distance to Proxima Centauri
Since Proxima Centauri is 4.3 light-years away, we multiply the distance of one light-year by 4.3:
\[
\text{Distance to Proxima Centauri} = 9.454 \times 10^{12} \, \text{km} \times 4.3 = 4.06522 \times 10^{13} \, \text{km}
\]

### Answer:
The distance to Proxima Centauri from the Sun is approximately:
\[
4.06522 \times 10^{13} \, \text{km}
\]

Would you like more details or have any further questions?

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1. How is the speed of light measured?
2. What is the significance of Proxima Centauri in space exploration?
3. How does light travel through space, and what influences its speed?
4. Are there other stars closer than Proxima Centauri?
5. How long would it take a spacecraft to reach Proxima Centauri with current technology?

**Tip:** Remember, light years are used for vast distances in space because kilometers or miles would result in impractically large numbers!

Learn how to calculate the distance from the Sun to Proxima Centauri, which is 4.3 light years away. The solution involves key physics concepts, including the speed of light and unit conversions to determine the distance in kilometers. Suitable for students in Grades 9-12.

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