One astronomical unit (AU) is equal to

Options

A. `1.496xx10^(8)km`
B. `9.46xx10^(12)km`
C. `3.084xx10^(13)km`
D. `4.596xx10^(15)km`

Explanation

To find the value of one astronomical unit (AU) in kilometers, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Definition of Astronomical Unit
An astronomical unit (AU) is defined as the mean distance between the center of the Earth and the center of the Sun.

### Step 2: Know the Value of 1 AU in Meters
The value of one astronomical unit is given as:
\[ 1 \text{ AU} = 1.496 \times 10^{11} \text{ meters} \]

### Step 3: Convert Meters to Kilometers
To convert meters to kilometers, we use the conversion factor:
\[ 1 \text{ kilometer} = 1,000 \text{ meters} \]
Thus, to convert meters to kilometers, we divide the value in meters by 1,000.

### Step 4: Perform the Conversion
Now we can convert the value of 1 AU from meters to kilometers:
\[ 1 \text{ AU} = \frac{1.496 \times 10^{11} \text{ meters}}{1,000} \]
This simplifies to:
\[ 1 \text{ AU} = 1.496 \times 10^{11} \div 10^{3} \text{ kilometers} \]
\[ 1 \text{ AU} = 1.496 \times 10^{8} \text{ kilometers} \]

### Final Answer
Thus, one astronomical unit (AU) is equal to:
\[ 1 \text{ AU} = 1.496 \times 10^{8} \text{ kilometers} \]

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