Speed of light: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:38, 14 December 2011

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:

c = 3 \times 1 0^{8} m s^{- 1}

Kilometers per second:

c = 3 \times 1 0^{5} k m s^{- 1}

Miles per second:

c = 1.9 \times 1 0^{5} m i s^{- 1}

If I commuincated I could thank you enough for this, I'd be lying.

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 :<math>c = 1.9 \times 10^{5} \mathrm{mis^{-1}}</math>
-==Consequences of the Speed of Light==
+If I commuincated I could thank you enough for this, I'd be lying.
-===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.
 ==See also==