What is the value of 1 Astronomical Unit in meters?

The correct value of 1 Astronomical Unit (AU) is approximately 1.496 × 10^11 meters. An Astronomical Unit is defined as the average distance from the Earth to the Sun. This unit is extremely useful in astronomy for measuring distances within our solar system, as it provides a convenient scale.

The other options represent distances that are either much larger or smaller than the actual distance of an AU. For example, 3.086 × 10^16 meters is equivalent to about 20,000 AU, which significantly exceeds the distance from the Earth to the Sun. Similarly, 6.371 × 10^6 meters is roughly the radius of Earth, which is far less than the distance to the Sun. Lastly, 9.461 × 10^15 meters corresponds to about 1 light year, which is another astronomical distance but not equivalent to an AU.

Thus, the value provided in the correct answer effectively captures the relationship between Earth and the Sun in terms of distance, making it the appropriate choice.