Speed of light in vacuum

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The speed of light in vacuum (symbol: c0), often just referred to as the speed of light, is a physical constant which appears in several different contexts. As the name suggests, it is the speed of electromagnetic radiation in vacuum, and is the maximum speed at which matter, energy or information can travel; it also links space and time in relativistic contexts, and appears in the famous equation of mass–energy equivalence E = mc2. In the International System of Units (SI), it has the defined value of 299 792 458 metres per second.[1][2]


Notes and references

Notes

References

  1. The International System of Units (SI), 8th ed.; International Bureau of Weights and Measures: Sèvres, France, 2006; p 112. ISBN 92-822-2213-6, <http://www.bipm.org/utils/common/pdf/si_brochure_8_en.pdf>.
  2. Mohr, Peter J.; Taylor, Barry N.; Newell, David B. CODATA Recommended Values of the Fundamental Physical Constants: 2006. Rev. Mod. Phys. 2008, 80 (2), 633–730. doi:10.1103/RevModPhys.80.633, <http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Constants/codata.pdf>. Direct link to value.

External links

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