The speed of light in a vacuum is denoted by the letter c, and its value is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second. The equation for the speed of light is often expressed as:
c = 3.00 x 10^8 m/s
This equation tells us how fast light travels in a perfect vacuum. Understanding this speed is crucial in various fields of physics, including relativity and electromagnetism. For instance, Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity, which has profoundly impacted our understanding of the universe, is based on the principle that the speed of light is the maximum speed at which information and matter can travel.