Because light is found on the electromagnetic spectrum, light travels at the same speed as other electromagnetic waves, which, in a vacuum, is 299,792,458 m/s, or 186,282.4 mi/s. Except when performing experiments that need the exact velocity of light, this number is usually rounded up to 3 ? 108 m/s (186,000 mi/s). Just like any other wave, light does slow down when it enters the Earth’s atmosphere.

The speed of sound in a medium depends upon several factors, such as density, temperature, whether the medium is a liquid or solid, and the elasticity of the medium. The more elastic the medium, the faster the sound wave will travel. The following table illustrates some examples of how fast sound can travel in different media. See similar questions...

To the best of your humble FAQ author's knowledge, the current speed record for a 'hobby' radio controlled helicopter is just over 100 miles per hour. To get that fast requires extensive modification, so you end up with a helicopter that can go fast but doesn't really run well, emits an ear-splitting roar, doesn't fly well upside-down, and basically can't really do much besides go really fast. The average person's "sport" helicopter is still pretty quick though. See similar questions...

The space shuttle must reach speeds of about 17,500 mph (28,000 kilometers per hour) to remain in orbit. The exact speed depends on the space shuttle's orbital altitude, which normally ranges from 190 miles to 330 miles (304 kilometers to 528 kilometers) above sea level, depending on its mission. Each of the two solid rocket boosters on the space shuttle carries more than one million pounds of solid propellant. See similar questions...

Hubble is one of the last two schools to receive major renovation or replacement since a renewal/replacement facility plan was initiated in 1985. While routine maintenance has occurred as needed, the overall building has not been renewed and major systems have not been replaced. In addition, there are $22 million in improvements required to bring the building in compliance with the state’s Life Safety Codes. See similar questions...

Tsunami velocity depends on the depth of water through which it travels (velocity equals the square root of the product of the water depth times the acceleration of gravity). Tsunamis travel approximately 475 mph in 15,000 feet of water. In 100 feet of water the velocity drops to about 40 mph. A tsunami travels from the central Aleutian Is. to Hawaii in about 5 hours and to California in about 6 hours, or from the Portugal coast to North Carolina in about 8.5 hours. See similar questions...

All our models feature two speed modes, turtle and rabbit (slow and fast). In rabbit mode your scooter can reach a max speed of about 4.4 mph (7.0 km/h). Always select to ride in turtle mode while traveling with walking companions or navigating through crowds to prevent your scooter from speeding past your cohorts or endangering other pedestrians. See similar questions...

Although a team can hit speeds of up to thirty miles an hour for a short distance it is inefficient to go that fast for very far, so an efficient, competitive speed would be a constant eleven or twelve miles an hour. See similar questions...

Good question! Information travels as electrical signals move along the cables (wires) from the detector to the computer. These electrical signals move really fast -- at a speed close to the speed of light but not quite that fast. The exact speed depends on the type of electrical cable we use. For the signal cables we use, which are called RG-58 cables, it takes 77 billionths of a second for signals to travel every 50 feet. See similar questions...

How high a satellite is above the Earth depends on the type of satellite. A geostationary satellite travels at a height of about 36,000 km (about 22,400 miles) and moves at about 3 km/sec (about 6700 mph). The Terra and Aqua satellites travel 700 km (about 435 miles) above the surface and at a speed of 7.5 km/sec (about 16,800mph). The TRMM spacecraft is in a lower orbit, about 350 km above the Earth. This was done so that the TRMM instruments could get a better, closer view. See similar questions...

This is the question that professional astronomers ask the most frequently. For many decades the Sandage [Ho = 50] and de Vaucouleurs [Ho = 100] camps battled in a long lasting distance scale controversy. Many outsiders thought that the geometric mean of these values, Ho = 71 km/sec/Mpc, was a good compromise. The Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect has been used to determine Ho = 77 +/- 10 km/sec/Mpc. See similar questions...

We recommend traveling at or below 30 mph (48 km/h) to ensure your safety but. we have tested them to exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) to ensure an adequate margin safety. See similar questions...

In general, during our trips we cover between 20 and 25 kilometers daily, depending on the weather conditions and the group’s ability. See similar questions...

There are different allowable train speeds for every section of track, including maximum speeds through cities, towns and crossings. The speed at which trains can safely operate is determined by many factors, including the condition of the roadbed and track structure. In Canada, CPR works to Transport Canada standards when setting maximum track speeds. Transport Canada Surface, under the authority of the Railway Safety Act, is responsible for ensuring railways operate within these standards. See similar questions...

Your houseboat will travel up to 6 knots or 7 miles an hour. We do recommend a specific travel speed to allow you to achieve the best fuel consumption. See similar questions...

Our intrepid spacecraft will travel 4.9 billion miles (7.9 billion kilometers) from launch in summer 2004 until beginning orbit around Mercury in March 2011. Over the following Earth year in orbit, it will travel 22.7 million miles (39.9 million kilometers) around Mercury. During MESSENGER's journey to Mercury orbit insertion, its average speed will be approximately 84,500 miles per hour (nearly 38 kilometers per second) relative to the Sun. See similar questions...

Although ghosts are in the form of energy they still tend to believe that they travel as they did in life, thusly they tend to move as they did. However speaking in terms of scientific potential they could travel as fast as the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that they are manifested on. See similar questions...