Question

Unless stated otherwise, when we discuss the speeds of things in our environment, ________?

1) we are referring to the speed of light
2) we are referring to the speed of sound
3) we are referring to the speed of objects on Earth
4) we are referring to the speed of objects in space

Answer 1

We generally refer to the speed of objects on Earth in everyday contexts, which is much slower than the constant speed of light, traveling at 3.00 × 108 m/s in a vacuum, such as outer space.

Step-by-step explanation:

When we discuss speeds of things in our environment without any specific context, we are generally referring to the speed of objects on Earth.

This means that the speed values are taken relative to usual referential systems on Earth and in conditions where objects move much slower than the speed of light. The speed of light is a constant and extremely high value equal to exactly 299,792,458 m/s in a vacuum, often rounded to 3.00 × 108 m/s. An example where light travels at this speed is in outer space.

Answer 2

Unless stated otherwise, when we discuss the speeds of things in our environment, we are referring to the speed of objects on Earth (Option 3).

Step-by-step explanation:

When we discuss the speeds of things in our environment, we are generally referring to the speed of objects on Earth, unless otherwise specified. So the correct answer to the question is option 3. The speed of light, denoted by 'c', is a fundamental physical constant, and is approximately 3.00 × 108 m/s in a vacuum. This speed is relevant for discussions in physics, particularly when talking about electromagnetic waves, relativity, or the cosmic scale.

However, in everyday contexts, particularly when discussing movements within our immediate surroundings, we usually refer to speeds much slower than that of light, such as those of cars, animals, or athletes. It's important to note that the speed of light remains constant in all inertial frames of reference and is not impacted by the motion of the source or the observer.

An example of a place where light travels at the speed of 3.00 × 108 m/s is outer space, which is essentially a vacuum. Within mediums like water or glass, the speed of light is slower, due to the interaction of light with the atoms of the medium, which makes the apparent speed of light less than that in a vacuum.

Thus, the correct answer is option 3.