Energy from the Sun is important to all the biogeochemical cycles on Earth. How does the Sun’s energy contribute to the carbon cycle?

Light from the sun reaches the earth in 8.3 minutes. the velocity is 3.00 x 10^8 m/s. how far is earth from the sun? i know how to get to d = (3 x 10^8 m/s)(498 sec). i just don't know how to get from there to the answer being 1.5 x 10^11 m.

Avolcano erupts next to a grassland area in a valley. a. describe three ways in which material released by the volcano could impact the grassland area. b. describe three ways in which the grassland ecosystem could recover after a volcanic eruption.

Where is the potential energy throughout the loading, cocking, and releasing of the trebuchet?