What is the speed of light per second in miles?

The correct speed of light is 186,000 miles per second. This value represents the speed at which light travels in a vacuum and is a fundamental constant in physics. This understanding is critical within optics and many other scientific disciplines, as it underpins the principles of light behavior, its propagation, and its interactions with different mediums.

The choice stating 300,000 miles per second may appear to be reasonable due to common references, as this value is sometimes used in contexts involving kilometers; specifically, it converts to approximately 300,000 kilometers per second. However, when converted to miles, the precise figure is 186,000 miles per second.

Furthermore, the other options are significantly lower than the actual speed of light. The values of 122,000 miles per second and 150,000 miles per second are both inaccurate and do not reflect the established measurements of the speed of light in scientific literature. Understanding these measurements is essential for anyone studying optics and related fields.