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Sound travels a mile in 4.5 seconds, while light is essentially instantaneous. So a difference of 9 seconds would be 2 miles, for example.

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Q: Math speed of light thunderstorms and lightning?
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What is the underlying principle that make light and all other electromagnetic waves travel at a fixed speed?

The speed of light is a constant, 299 792 458m/s, usually rounded to 3.0 x 108m/s.Their are three proportions involving the speed of light that are the underlyingprinciples that make electromagnetic radiation travel at a fixed speed.c = ƒ• λ, means that the speed of light, c, is directly proportional to the frequency, f,and wavelength, λ.ƒ = λ/ c, means that the frequency, f, of a wave is directly proportional to thewavelength, λ, and inversely proportional to the speed of light, c.λ = ƒ/c, means that wavelength is directly proportional to the frequency, f, andinversely proportional to the speed of light, c.=========================================The first line above is correct. That is indeed the speed of light in a vacuum.And now, to try and answer the question:The speed of electromagnetic waves is the result of the electrical characteristics ofwhatever they're moving through, whether vacuum or something else. The Physicistwho developed the theory of electromagnetic waves ... James Clerk Maxwell ... workedout all the math in the 1870s, and right there in his math was a number that had to bethe speed of these waves. That was one reason why so many scientists worked so hardfrom that time on to measure the speed of light. If it turned out to be the same as thenumber in Maxwell's math, then that outcome would strongly support two conjectures:#1). That light is an electromagnetic wave, and #2). That Maxwell probably knew whathe was talking about, and his whole theory of electromagnetic waves could be depended on.Ever since then, the more accurately the speed of light is measured, the closer themeasurement comes to Maxwell's prediction for it.


How many times greater is the speed of light than the speed of sound?

The speed of sound in air is about 300 meters per second. (320 is closer still). ..The speed of light in a vacuum is 300 000 000 meters per second.So the speed of light in a vacuum (in air it is only slightly different) is about one million times the speed of sound in air.


Why is the speed of light 186000 miles per sec?

That's just the way it works out. _________________ In cases like this, the question "why" isn't the best question. It is interesting to note that the speed you mention is the speed of light in a vacuum. And although light doesn't need a medium through which to travel, it can be slowed down depending on what it's traveling through. If projected through a Bose-Einstein condensate, it can be slowed to the point of something on the order of tens or hundreds of meters per second. But the most amazing thing is that in a vacuum, any observer from any point of view, in any frame of reference, will observe the light and clock it at 186000 miles per second, another reason why 'why' becomes literally unanswerable. This is a personal thought and not based on any research that I know of. I think that light travels at c, and c is also the velocity of time itself. If we could accelerate to c, we would reach a point where time is not passing for us; we would be motionless in relation to time. As we decelerate, we begin to move relative to time and we experience time passing. Or perhaps, somehow, we are the ones moving at c, giving us the experience of time passing (because we are passing through it), and what we cannot do is 'slow down to a stop' by accelerating in the other direction.


What symbol represents the speed of light?

speed does not have any symbol if you are talking about velcity then v,acceleration-a s is used as a symbol but it is generally for height.


How many km would light travel in a minute?

-Light travels at 299,792,458 meters per second.-There is 31,556,926 seconds in one year.-Light travels 9,460,528,412,464,108 meters in one year and after doing the math, light travels 9,460,528,412,464.108 kilometers in one year.

Related questions

What does math have to do with lightning?

The probability of lightning striking any one spot, or the heat or light output of lightning. Maybe the number or volts.


How long would it take the speed of light to travel 2780.82 miles?

The speed of light is ~186,282 Miles per second. You do the math.


What does c represent in math?

Among other things, the speed of light in a vacuum.


What word phrase does c represent in math?

Among other things, the speed of light in a vacuum.


Who is the math teacher in lightning thief?

Mrs. Dodds.


What does letter c mean in math?

In the classic equation E = mc^2, c stands for the speed of light.


If light has mass then it cannot travel at the speed of light if it has no mass it would not be affected by gravity Therefore the math for the infinite mass theory at light-speed must be reexamined?

Wrong, Light has mass and does travel at the speed of light and is affected by gravity! Light mass: hf=mc^2 means m=h/cw. Optical mass is m-red=2.96e-36 kg (w=.75um). Violet would be double 5.92e-36 kg. The math for the infinite mass theory at light-speed is also wrong.- -------- Light has no resting mass, just energy. Gravity is a bend in space, therfore Gravity does not pull at light but the light 'bends' with space


What does 186282mps S of L mean in math?

It is NOT a standard phrase, but "186282 miles per second Speed of Light".It is not a standard phrase becauseit is true for the speed of all electromagnetic radiation in vacuum, not just light, andit is not true if the medium is not vacuum.


What does C mean in math?

It doesnt me anything in particular but its a variable that stands for a number UMMM NO! She/he means as a measurement. not a variable. =P


What is the math term mc2?

Einstein proposed a formula describing the relationship between mass and energy - it is e=mc2 where e is energy, m is mass and c is the speed of light, so the amount of energy (in juoles) is equal to the mass (in Kilograms) multiplied by the speed of light (in metres per second), all multiplied again by the speed of light.


How is speed a part math?

Speed is a part of math because you need to know how fast or how slow the car is going .And, to make sure you do not go over the speed limit.


How do you work out how long light takes from the sun to reach earth?

By using the parallax you can deduce the distance to all planets and many stars. [See related link]From that, simple math can calculate and distance to light speed.