What is the speed of light in air?
The speed of light in air is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second (m/s). This speed is slightly slower than in a vacuum due to interactions between light and air molecules, which cause slight delays in its propagation compared to its speed in empty space.
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The speed of light in air is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second (m/s), which corresponds to option [A]. Light travels at this speed when moving through the Earth’s atmosphere, which is primarily composed of nitrogen and oxygen molecules. While air is less dense than materials like water or glass, it still affects the speed of light due to these molecular interactions. The speed of light in air is only marginally slower than its speed in a vacuum, where it travels at exactly 299,792,458 m/s. This difference is crucial in various applications, such as telecommunications and atmospheric optics, where precise calculations and measurements of light’s speed through different media are necessary. Understanding how light interacts with and travels through air is essential for both scientific research and everyday technological advancements, highlighting the importance of knowing its speed under various conditions for accurate predictions and assessments.