2006-07-24 05:36:36 · 8 answers · asked by towernarinder 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Primary & Secondary Education
fast, very fast.
While both light and sound travel as waves, the speed of light is much, much faster.
Light is composed of electromagnetic waves which travel independent of a medium. That is to say, light can travel in a vacuum, such as outer space. Electromagnetic waves travel very fast. In a vacuum, the speed is 300,000,000 meters per second; the maximum speed which energy may obtain. This value is abbreviated as "c" , and you may have seen it before as part of Einstein's equation E=mc2. However, when light passes through transparent materials, it slows down a bit. This is because electromagnetic waves interact with the subatomic components of matter. In water, for example, light slows down to around 0.75c, or 225,000,000 meters per second. Even in a material as dense as diamond light travels well over 100 million meters per second!
Sound is created by small changes in pressure near the surface of a vibrating object. These changes are propagated through a material medium, such as air, like the ripples formed when one tosses a stone into a pool of water. Sound travels through air at about 340 meters per second. In contrast to light, sound often travels faster in dense materials. In liquid water, sound travels 1450 meters per second. And, in metals such as iron, sounds can travel well over 5000 meters per second. While this is about ten times the speed of a supersonic jet airplane, it is only a tiny fraction of the speed of light.
2006-07-24 05:39:45 · answer #1 · answered by Robert C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
actual speed of light is-3x10to the power 8 m/s
2006-07-24 13:03:28 · answer #2 · answered by upasna_garg2006 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The speed of light in a vacuum is exactly equal to 299,792,458 metres per second . At sea level, the speed of sound is about 761 miles per hour (1,225 kilometers per hour).
2006-07-24 12:46:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the speed of light is approximately 186,282.397 miles per second, or 670,616,629.384 miles per hour
the speed of sounds varies on air temperature and humidity, so there cannot be an easy catch-all answer for this!
2006-07-24 12:42:53 · answer #4 · answered by illustrat_ed_designs 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the speed of light is approximately 186,282.397 miles per second, or 670,616,629.384 miles per hour.
The speed of sound varies. Temperature and humidity play a factor.The speed of sound at sea level = 340.29 m / s in dry air.
2006-07-24 12:44:45 · answer #5 · answered by tmills883 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
speed sound 760mph/1,220kph sea level
speed light 300,000 km/ 186,000 miles per second in a vacuum
Short and sweet why all the dross
2006-07-24 12:45:14 · answer #6 · answered by Wacko Jacko 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there speeds r defined constants..
light:- "3x10^8 m/s"
sound:-"330 m/s" (m/s means meters per second)
but new theories r comming up that speed of light is greater @ da centr of universe nd slows towards da edges..
as v r at da edge of milkyway da speed is such,@ da centr of milkyway it might b 4x10^8m/s
2006-07-24 12:47:47 · answer #7 · answered by click339 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
simple --
light is 3* (10^8)
sound is 330
units of both r in M.K.S ie metres/sec
2006-07-24 12:46:17 · answer #8 · answered by Rao 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋