What is the time taken for electromagnetic energy to travel one nautical mile and return?

To determine the time taken for electromagnetic energy to travel one nautical mile and return, we need to start with the speed of light, which is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second in a vacuum. This speed applies to electromagnetic energy, including light and radio waves.

First, we should convert one nautical mile to meters. A nautical mile is equal to 1,852 meters. Therefore, to find the time it takes for electromagnetic energy to travel one nautical mile out and back, we need to calculate the total distance traveled, which is twice the one-way distance:

2 nautical miles = 2 x 1,852 meters = 3,704 meters.

Next, we calculate the travel time using the formula:

Time = Distance / Speed.

Substituting the values we have:

Time = 3,704 meters / 299,792,458 meters/second.

Calculating this gives us approximately 12.36 microseconds, as we convert seconds into microseconds (1 second = 1,000,000 microseconds).

Thus, the correct answer is the one that comes closest to this calculated time. In this case, the option representing 12.36 microseconds accurately reflects the calculated time taken for electromagnetic energy