#Physics#Constants#Light
What is the speed of light in a vacuum in m/s?
TL;DR Summary: The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second. This fundamental physical constant is denoted by the letter 'c'.
What is the speed of light in a vacuum in m/s?
The speed of light in a vacuum, commonly represented by the symbol $c$, is a universal physical constant vital to many areas of physics. Its exact value is 299,792,458 meters per second (m/s).
Significance in Physics
In the International System of Units (SI), the meter is defined as the distance that light travels in a vacuum in exactly 1/299,792,458th of a second. This makes the speed of light an exact, defined value rather than a measured one.
According to Albert Einstein's theory of special relativity, $c$ is the maximum speed at which all energy, matter, and information in the universe can travel.