Why is the speed of light exactly 300,000 km s?

Mondo Science Updated on 2024-01-19

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According to special relativity, the speed of light is a fundamental constant of 299,792,458 m s, regardless of whether the light source is moving or stationary, but this number is usually rounded to 300,000 km s.

But how do we know that the speed of light is this speed?Why shouldn't it be bigger or smaller?

Romer's observations of Jupiter's moons.

The speed of light was first measured by the Danish astronomer Olaf Romer. In 1666-1668, he made observations of Jupiter's moons and noted patterns that could only be explained by the finite speed of light, which at that time was considered infinitely high. Soon after, in 1672-1675, working with Cassini in France, Romer noticed that the time between the eclipses of Jupiter's moons shortened when the Earth and Jupiter were near, and when the planets moved away, on the contrary, it increased.

From this, Romer and Cassini calculated the speed of light, which was 135,000 km/s and 220,000 km/s, respectively. Despite the large errors, the results were surprising, since astronomers at that time had fairly primitive instruments and therefore also data on the distances between objects. (This is why there is such a big difference in the calculations of Romer and Cassini).

Since then, the speed of light has been refined several times due to improvements in measuring equipment, and according to modern data, the speed of light is 299792458 km sec.

Separation of light in a prism.

In the 19th century, James Maxwell successfully proved that light is an electromagnetic wave. He derived a system of equations that described the behavior of stationary charges, moving charges, and electric currents, and also combined electrodynamics and magnetism. Now these equations are known as Maxwell's equations.

Maxwell's equations are engraved at the foot of the James Maxwell monument.

There are several possible solutions for this system, one of which is an oscillating, inverting and perpendicular electric and magnetic field – electromagnetic waves. Maxwell calculated their propagation speed to about 300,000 kilometers per second, which was the speed of light known at the time

Oscillating, mutually perpendicular, in-phase electromagnetic fields.

Since then, this speed has been present in various fields of physics:

This is the speed at which any massless particle moves.

Electromagnetic vibrations propagate at this speed.

Gravitational waves will propagate with it.

This is the maximum possible rate of information transfer.

It connects mass and energy (famous – e = mc).

The speed of light is one of the fundamental constants of our universe, and many other constants are based on it. If the speed of light were greater or smaller, then atoms might not form, which means galaxies, stars, planets, and eventually intelligent life that can think about the speed of light will not appear.

Proponents of creationism see this as evidence of intelligent design, that higher ideas give fundamental constants exactly those values necessary for the existence of the universe and the emergence of intelligent life. But creationism is not the only possibility, let alone the most probable, explanation for why constants have values we know they have.

Most scientists follow the anthropic principle, which states that we see the universe as it is because it is this constant coincidence that gives rise to intelligent life that would not exist and no one would exist if their values were different. will think about these questions.

According to the multiverse theory: whenever a universe is born, it acquires a specific set of fundamental constants, and depending on the values they acquire, the universe may immediately collapse, ** or continue to exist in one form, or continue to exist. Another person may not exist at all to ask such a question.

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