Definition:Speed of Light/Value
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Speed of Light: Value
The value of the speed of light is:
| \(\ds c\) | \(=\) | \(\ds 299 \, 792 \, 458\) | $\mathrm {m \, s^{-1} }$ | \(\quad\) (exact) | ||||||||||
| \(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds 2 \cdotp 99792 \, 458 \times 10^{10}\) | $\mathrm {cm \, s^{-1} }$ | \(\quad\) (exact) |
Also defined as
It is customary in introductory material, or popular works on science, to use the approximation:
| \(\ds c\) | \(=\) | \(\ds 3 \times 10^8\) | $\mathrm {m \, s^{-1} }$ |
Sources
- 1964: Milton Abramowitz and Irene A. Stegun: Handbook of Mathematical Functions ... (previous) ... (next): $2$. Physical Constants and Conversion Factors: Table $2.3$ Adjusted Values of Constants
- who quote the historic $299 \, 792 \cdotp 50 \pm 0 \cdotp 10$, as that was what was contemporary on its publication.
- 1969: J.C. Anderson, D.M. Hum, B.G. Neal and J.H. Whitelaw: Data and Formulae for Engineering Students (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $3.$ Physical Constants
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): speed of light
- 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): speed of light