The Speed of Light

What is the speed of light?

299,792,458m/s.

How did Galileo attempt to find the speed of light?

By having a two lanterns a distance apart and uncovering one, then uncovering the other one once the light reached it.

Who is Ole Romer?

Estimated the speed of light to be about 220,000,000m/s, by observing eclipses.

Who was the first astronomer to question that light had not traveled instantaneously?

Galileo Galilei.

Who is Leon Foucault?

Improved upon Fizeau's method and got a more accurate calculation of 298,000,000m/s.

Who is Hippolyte Fizeau?

Improved upon Galileo's method by shining light through a cogwheel and observing its reflection a mirror, as a result he calculated that the speed of light was 313,000,000m/s.

Who discovered that the speed of light and electromagnetic waves were the same?

James Maxwell.

Was Galileo's method effective?

No he could only estimate that light was like ten times faster than time.

Do all electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in a vacuum?

Yes.

What is the typical variable used to represent the speed of light?

c.