When you throw a ball into the causes the ball to experience vertical accelertation?

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.

Aparticle's position is given by x = 3.00 - 9.00t + 3t2, in which x is in meters and t is in seconds. (a) what is its velocity at t = 1 s? (b) is it moving in the positive or negative direction of x just then? (c) what is its speed just then? (d) is the speed increasing or decreasing just then? (try answering the next two questions without further calculation.) (e) is there ever an instant when the velocity is zero? if so, give the time t; if not, answer "0". (f) is there a time after t = 3 s when the particle is moving in the negative direction of x? if so, give the time t; if not, answer "0".

While carrying a heavy box up the stairs,you set the box on a step and rest. then you pick up the box and carry it to the top of the stairs. describe these actions in terms of balanced and unbalanced forces acting on the box.