2006-12-11 23:50:58 · 7 answers · asked by vivek g 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Why cant you just ask if it goes 186,000 miles per second?
yes it does.
2006-12-11 23:56:30 · answer #1 · answered by dewhatulike 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the speed of light is 3*10^8m/s and no Einstein did not propose that. It had been measured previously and Einstein used that known fact in developing his theories of motion, time and space.
2006-12-12 09:17:31 · answer #2 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As the others say, it was known before Einstein. The problem that Einstein solved is this:
Maxwell's equations seemed to indicate that light had the same speed, regardless of the speed of the source.
For example, flashlight is pointing at you and not moving: speed of light from flashlight is 300,000 km/s.
Then, imagine the flashlight racing towards you at 100 km/s. You'd expect the light from it to arrive at 300,100 km/s. It does not. It is still at 300,000 km/s.
Although we never moved a flashlight at 100 km/s, there are objects in space moving fast enough for the data to be tested.
2006-12-12 08:23:52 · answer #3 · answered by Raymond 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the speed of light is approximately 3*10^8m/s yes, which is also known as 30,000,000m/s or 186,000 miles per second, althouh it was not proposed by Einstien, it was known long before that.
2006-12-13 00:51:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The speed of light is 299792458 meters per second exactly, and Einstein did not propose that.
2006-12-12 10:06:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No .. It was a given before that. It was measured by many people before Einstein came along and it can be directly calculated from Maxwell's equations (elentromagnetic stuff) using two simple physical constants.
2006-12-12 07:58:56 · answer #6 · answered by Gene 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He didn't propose it. It was already known to be that.
2006-12-12 07:56:11 · answer #7 · answered by Morgy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋