What is the distance of one Astronomical Unit (AU)?

One Astronomical Unit (AU) is defined as the average distance from the Earth to the Sun, which is approximately 150 million kilometers. When converted into meters, this distance is about 150 million kilometers multiplied by 1,000 (since 1 kilometer equals 1,000 meters), resulting in 150 billion meters.

The correct answer of 1.5 billion meters reflects a common misunderstanding because the correct measurement in terms of meters is significantly larger. The actual distance is often rounded to about 150 million kilometers or expressed in billion meters correctly, where the significant digit placement should be noted in the conversion.

It is essential to remember that an Astronomical Unit serves as a convenient way to express distances within our solar system, allowing for easier comprehension and calculations when discussing large distances in space.