Select any and all of the following which are true:
The speed of light is __________.
Group of answer choices
constant for all wavelengths when measured in a vacuum.
commonly denoted as "c".
approximately 670,600,000 mph
faster in water than in a vacuum.
3.0 x 10^8 m/s.
The speed of light is:
- constant for all wavelengths when measured in a vacuum.
- commonly denoted as "c".
- 3.0 x 10^8 m/s.
The following statements are true:
1. The speed of light is constant for all wavelengths when measured in a vacuum.
2. The speed of light is commonly denoted as "c".
3. The speed of light is approximately 670,600,000 mph.
4. The speed of light is 3.0 x 10^8 m/s.
To determine which of the options are true, let's break them down one by one:
1. The speed of light is constant for all wavelengths when measured in a vacuum.
This statement is true. According to the theory of Special Relativity, the speed of light in a vacuum is constant and does not depend on the wavelength. So, if a measurement is taken in a vacuum, the speed of light will be the same for all wavelengths.
2. The speed of light is commonly denoted as "c".
This statement is also true. In physics, the speed of light is commonly represented by the symbol "c". It is a standard notation used to refer to the speed of light in equations and scientific discussions.
3. The speed of light is approximately 670,600,000 mph.
This statement is not true. The speed of light is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second (m/s), which when converted to miles per hour is roughly 670,616,629 mph. So, the given value is close but not exactly the correct speed of light.
4. The speed of light is faster in water than in a vacuum.
This statement is false. The speed of light in a medium, such as water, is slower than in a vacuum. It is because light travels slower through the molecules of a medium, which causes a decrease in its speed. So, in water, the speed of light is slower compared to its speed in a vacuum.
5. The speed of light is 3.0 x 10^8 m/s.
This statement is true. The speed of light is indeed approximately 3.0 x 10^8 meters per second (m/s). This value is commonly used and is considered an approximate value for the speed of light in a vacuum.
So, out of the options given, the true statements are:
- The speed of light is constant for all wavelengths when measured in a vacuum.
- The speed of light is commonly denoted as "c".
- The speed of light is 3.0 x 10^8 m/s.