58.3k views
1 vote
How far does the light travel in 1 second on a stationary light clock?

User Noobie
by
8.7k points

1 Answer

1 vote

Final answer:

Light travels a distance of 299,792,458 meters in one second in a vacuum, which equates to the speed of light ('c').

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks about the distance that light travels in one second in the context of a stationary light clock. Using the definition established in 1983, light in a vacuum is recognized to travel a distance of one meter in 1/299,792,458 of a second. Therefore, in one second, light will travel 299,792,458 meters, which is the same as the speed of light denoted by the symbol 'c'. To put it another way, the distance of one light-second is 299,792,458 meters. This fact is derived from the constant and invariant speed of light in a vacuum, which is a fundamental postulate of the theory of relativity.

User Zdolny
by
8.7k points