The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 300,000,000 meters per second (3.00 x 108 m/s). To convert this speed into miles per hour (mph), we need to use the conversion factor that 1 mile is equivalent to 1,610 meters.
To perform the conversion, we follow these steps:
- Convert meters per second to miles per second:
- Now convert miles per second to miles per hour:
300,000,000 m/s ÷ 1,610 m/mile ≈ 186,412.36 miles per second
186,412.36 miles/second × 3,600 seconds/hour ≈ 670,616,629.2 mph
So, the speed of light is approximately 670,616,629.2 miles per hour. This immense speed is one of the fundamental constants of nature and plays a crucial role in the theory of relativity and our understanding of the universe.