Difference between revisions of "Speed of light"
(→Communication: added note about sun blocking communications; removed inapplicable precision) |
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===Communication=== | ===Communication=== | ||
| − | [[Humans]] have discovered methods to communicate over great distances using electromagnetic (EM) radiation, such as radio waves and lasers. On Earth, distances are short enough that these methods seem instantaneous. On [[Mars]] and other parts of the [[solar system]], communication with Earth involves a time delay, based on the time it takes the EM radiation to travel. The delay between Earth and Mars varies from 3 minutes to 22 minutes (between | + | [[Humans]] have discovered methods to communicate over great distances using electromagnetic (EM) radiation, such as radio waves and lasers. On Earth, distances are short enough that these methods seem instantaneous. On [[Mars]] and other parts of the [[solar system]], communication with Earth involves a time delay, based on the time it takes the EM radiation to travel. The delay between Earth and Mars varies from 3 minutes to 22 minutes (between about 180 to 1340 seconds depending on the postition of planets and resulting distance). For two way comunication (request - answer) time is doubled. |
| − | For two way comunication (request - answer) time is doubled. | + | |
| + | To provide uninterupted communications, a group of communication sattelites will be necessary (placed in the orbit around the sun) - due different orbital speeds of both planets, for a period of time sun will be possitioned directly between both planets, blocking dirrect communications. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 22:56, 10 March 2010
Definition
The Speed of Light (or c) is the speed at which a photon (an "energy packet" of electromagnetic radiation) travels in a vacuum.
Values
The exact measurement for the speed of light is 299,792,458 meters per second, in the following values, the speed of light will use values based on the rounded 300,000,000 m/s.
Meters per second:
Kilometers per second:
Miles per second:
Consequences of the Speed of Light
Communication
Humans have discovered methods to communicate over great distances using electromagnetic (EM) radiation, such as radio waves and lasers. On Earth, distances are short enough that these methods seem instantaneous. On Mars and other parts of the solar system, communication with Earth involves a time delay, based on the time it takes the EM radiation to travel. The delay between Earth and Mars varies from 3 minutes to 22 minutes (between about 180 to 1340 seconds depending on the postition of planets and resulting distance). For two way comunication (request - answer) time is doubled.
To provide uninterupted communications, a group of communication sattelites will be necessary (placed in the orbit around the sun) - due different orbital speeds of both planets, for a period of time sun will be possitioned directly between both planets, blocking dirrect communications.
