Value of 'c': Speed of Light

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Value of c refers to the speed of light photons in a vacuum and measured in SI units of m/s. The value of the velocity of light, or c, is a constant throughout all parts of the universe. This physical constant has a wide range of applications in physics.

Key Terms: Value of c, Light velocity, significance of the speed of light, speed of light, Photon, Velocity, vacuum, Plane


The Speed of Light

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The velocity of light in vacuum is:

The speed of light is equal to 299792458 m/s ≅ 3×108 m/s.

Light velocity can be described in terms of miles per hour (mph) or kilometers per second (km/s). This is-

The speed of light in miles per hour is 186,000 miles per hour.

Light travels at 299792 km/s in air.

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Time Difference can be Significantly Reduced with Speed of Light

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The speed of light in space is unquestionably measured in microseconds. For the same reason, humanity on the planet lags far behind. To ensure that this disparity is greatly decreased, numerous physicists and scientists are working hard to develop the most effective time-reducing method and lessen the time difference between the two planes.

As a result of light speed, physicists can identify time equations considerably more effectively and discover appropriate solutions to the corresponding difficulties.


Value of C helps in Detecting the Masses of the Objects

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Light has an extremely small mass, which allows it to travel at such a high speed. Other objects' masses can be increased or decreased by detecting or tracing this time-span and mass.

For the same reason, understanding the speed of light can assist humans in detecting the masses of numerous other things swiftly and efficiently.


Consistency in Objects Can be Traced Easily with the Value of C

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The speed of light is something that is constantly constant and is unaffected by any medium. This can be researched and applied to other items as well, and for the same reason, the value of the speed of light is undeniable in its place or manner.

To a large extent, all of the preceding statements describe the significance of the speed of light in the Physics discipline. For all of the aforementioned reasons, students should prioritize the speed of light to be totally relieved about Physics in the future.


Things to Remember

  • Value of c is a part of unit 2, chapter 3 Motion in a straight line in class 11 physics syllabus.
  • It carries a total of 11 to 14 periods and 3 to 5 marks. 
  • Speed of light plays an important role in understanding the dynamics of the moving objects.
  • It provides a very important connection between matter and energy through E = m*c²
  • Value of c sets the upper limit on the velocity of the signal between two objects.

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Sample Questions

Ques. Why should we symbolize the speed of light with 'c' only and not any other alphabet? (3 mark)

Ans. We symbolize the speed of light with ‘c’ because of the name of the speed of light in Latin, the right and most clear answer are. The speed of light is known as light celeritas in Latin, which means "the speed of light." Because a Latin Physicist introduces light, the speed of light is given the first alphabet as its sign. There is also a history of the use of the letter 'c' to represent the speed of light. Einstein first depicted the speed of light as a 'V.' However, his idea fell short of proving several features of the speed of light.

After several decades, a Latin physicist corrected all of Einstein's faults and symbolically denoted the speed of light as 'c' rather than 'V.' As a result, the symbol for the speed of light is 'c' because it is based on the same in Latin in the first place.

Ques. What factors are included in the formula of the speed of light? (3 mark)

Ans. In the first place, some well-known factors are involved in the formula for the speed of light. We all know that no factor in a formula arrives single-handedly, even if it is the c light constant or even if it is the centripetal force, and so on.

However, some equations may contain only two elements, and others may contain multiple factors.

The c speed of the light factor is related to the 'f' factor, which represents the frequency of light or that specific item.

As we all know, the speed of light is three times 10, which is 8 meters per second or 3 lakh kilometers per second. So, if students wish to calculate the speed of any other object, they should compare it to the speed of light and the frequency of the object in question. Without a doubt, the solution will be plainly discernible.

Ques. How can the value of C help in detecting the masses of the objects? (1 mark)

Ans. Light has an extremely small mass, which allows it to travel at such a high speed. Other objects' masses can be increased or decreased by detecting or tracing this time-span and mass.

Ques. What is the velocity of light in vacuum? (1 mark)

Ans. The speed of light is equal to 299792458 m/s ≅ 3×108 m/s.

Ques. What is the unit for the speed of light? (1 mark)

Ans. Light velocity can be described in terms of miles per hour (mph) or kilometers per second (km/s).

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CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

  • 1.
    In the circuit, three ideal cells of e.m.f. \( V \), \( V \), and \( 2V \) are connected to a resistor of resistance \( R \), a capacitor of capacitance \( C \), and another resistor of resistance \( 2R \) as shown in the figure. In the steady state, find (i) the potential difference between P and Q, (ii) the potential difference across capacitor C.
    potential difference across capacitor C


      • 2.
        A vertically held bar magnet is dropped along the axis of a copper ring having a cut as shown in the diagram. The acceleration of the falling magnet is:
        vertically held bar magnet is dropped along the axis of a copper ring

          • zero
          • less than \( g \)
          • \( g \)
          • greater than \( g \)

        • 3.
          The ends of six wires, each of resistance R (= 10 \(\Omega\)) are joined as shown in the figure. The points A and B of the arrangement are connected in a circuit. Find the value of the effective resistance offered by it to the circuit.
          The ends of six wires, each of resistance


            • 4.
              A rectangular glass slab ABCD (refractive index 1.5) is surrounded by a transparent liquid (refractive index 1.25) as shown in the figure. A ray of light is incident on face AB at an angle \(i\) such that it is refracted out grazing the face AD. Find the value of angle \(i\).
              A rectangular glass slab ABCD (refractive index 1.5)


                • 5.
                  A parallel plate capacitor has plate area \( A \) and plate separation \( d \). Half of the space between the plates is filled with a material of dielectric constant \( K \) in two ways as shown in the figure. Find the values of the capacitance of the capacitors in the two cases. parallel plate capacitor


                    • 6.
                      The electric field at a point in a region is given by \( \vec{E} = \alpha \frac{\hat{r}}{r^3} \), where \( \alpha \) is a constant and \( r \) is the distance of the point from the origin. The magnitude of potential of the point is:

                        • \( \frac{\alpha}{r} \)
                        • \( \frac{\alpha r^2}{2} \)
                        • \( \frac{\alpha}{2r^2} \)
                        • \( -\frac{\alpha}{r} \)
                      CBSE CLASS XII Previous Year Papers

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