Question

My Notes Ask Your The speed of light is now defined to be c= 2.99792458*101 mis. (a) Express the speed of light to three significant figures. m/s (b) Express the speed of light to five significant figures. m/s (c) Express the speed of light to seven significant figures. m/s

Answer 1

(a) The speed of light in three significant figures is,
`3.00* 10^1m/s`

(b) The speed of light in five significant figures is,
`2.9979* 10^1m/s`

(c) The speed of light in seven significant figures is,
`2.997924* 10^1m/s`

Explanation :

Significant figures : The figures in a number which express the value -the magnitude of a quantity to a specific degree of accuracy is known as significant digits.

As we are given that the speed of light is:

`2.99792458* 10^1m/s`

In the given value, there are 9 significant figures.

(a) Now we have to determine the speed of light in three significant figures.

For three significant figure, we round off the digits and we get:

`3.00* 10^1m/s`

(b) Now we have to determine the speed of light in five significant figures.

`2.9979* 10^1m/s`

(c) Now we have to determine the speed of light in seven significant figures.

`2.997924* 10^1m/s`