Light second: Difference between revisions
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The '''light second''' is the distance that the [[light]] travels in [[vacuum]] in one [[second]] and so is a unit of distance. | The '''light second''' is the distance that the [[light]] travels in [[vacuum]] in one [[second]] and so is a unit of distance. | ||
Similar units are the [[light minute]], [[light hour]], [[light day]], [[light week]], [[light month]], [[light year]]. | |||
===Numerical value=== | |||
As opposed to the [[light year]], whose value more or less depends on the definition of [[year]], the value of the light second is defined exactly. | |||
* [[velocity]] of [[light]] in [[vacuum]]: 299,792,458 m/s <ref>Review of Particle Physics | |||
[http://stacks.iop.org/JPhysG/33/1 Particle Data Group: W.-M. Yao ''et al.'', J. Phys. G 33, 1 (2006).]</ref> ([[meter]]s/[[second]]) | |||
* 1 light second = 299,792,458 m = 2.99792458 * 10<sup>8</sup>m | |||
===Comparison to other Units=== | |||
* 1 [[astronomical unit| AU]] = 499 light seconds | |||
* 1 light second = 299,792.458 [[km]] | |||
* 1 light second = 186,282.397 [[mi]]<ref>1 mi = 1609.344 m</ref> | |||
* 1 light second = 983,571,056.4 [[ft]]<ref> 1 ft = 0.3048 m</ref> | |||
* 1 light second = 327,857,018.8 [[yd]]<ref> 1 yd = 0.9144 m</ref> | |||
===Distances in Light Seconds=== | |||
* the maximum distance between [[earth]] and [[moon]] is about 1.3 light seconds | |||
* the maximum distance between [[earth]] and [[sun]] is about 499 light seconds or 8.3 [[light minute]]s | |||
===Notes=== | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
Latest revision as of 20:35, 20 February 2010
The light second is the distance that the light travels in vacuum in one second and so is a unit of distance.
Similar units are the light minute, light hour, light day, light week, light month, light year.
Numerical value
As opposed to the light year, whose value more or less depends on the definition of year, the value of the light second is defined exactly.
- velocity of light in vacuum: 299,792,458 m/s [1] (meters/second)
- 1 light second = 299,792,458 m = 2.99792458 * 108m
Comparison to other Units
- 1 AU = 499 light seconds
- 1 light second = 299,792.458 km
- 1 light second = 186,282.397 mi[2]
- 1 light second = 983,571,056.4 ft[3]
- 1 light second = 327,857,018.8 yd[4]
Distances in Light Seconds
- the maximum distance between earth and moon is about 1.3 light seconds
- the maximum distance between earth and sun is about 499 light seconds or 8.3 light minutes
Notes
- ↑ Review of Particle Physics Particle Data Group: W.-M. Yao et al., J. Phys. G 33, 1 (2006).
- ↑ 1 mi = 1609.344 m
- ↑ 1 ft = 0.3048 m
- ↑ 1 yd = 0.9144 m