Difference between revisions of "Speed of light in vacuum"
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| − | The '''speed of light in vacuum''' (symbol: '''''c''<sub>0</sub>'''), 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 [[Theory of relativity|relativistic]] contexts, and appears in the famous equation of [[mass–energy equivalence]] ''E'' = ''mc''<sup>2</sup>. In the [[International System of Units]] (SI), it has the defined value of {{nowrap|299 792 458 metres}} per second. | + | The '''speed of light in vacuum''' (symbol: '''''c''<sub>0</sub>'''), 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 [[Theory of relativity|relativistic]] contexts, and appears in the famous equation of [[mass–energy equivalence]] ''E'' = ''mc''<sup>2</sup>. In the [[International System of Units]] (SI), it has the defined value of {{nowrap|299 792 458 metres}} per second.<ref>{{SIbrochure8th|page=112}}.</ref><ref name="CODATA">{{CODATA 2006|url=http://physics.nist.gov/cgi-bin/cuu/Value?c}}.</ref> |
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==Notes and references== | ==Notes and references== | ||
Latest revision as of 12:15, 11 April 2011
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
- ↑ 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>.
- ↑ 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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See also the corresponding article on Wikipedia. |
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