In almost every textbook, I've found that the speed of light is $c \approx 3 \times 10^8\: \mathrm{m/s}$. I wonder why it's just $c$ ?
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4$\begingroup$ You may check this link $\endgroup$– stathiskFeb 10, 2014 at 5:13
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$\begingroup$ Hi, here is a link with a very nice and exhaustive answer to this question: math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/Relativity/SpeedOfLight/c.html $\endgroup$– Zoltan ZimborasFeb 10, 2014 at 5:14
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2$\begingroup$ @Zet: you were 46 seocnd faster ;) $\endgroup$– Zoltan ZimborasFeb 10, 2014 at 5:14
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3$\begingroup$ I always thought it stood for "cpeed of light" : ) $\endgroup$– Abhimanyu Pallavi SudhirFeb 10, 2014 at 6:13
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4$\begingroup$ This question appears to be off-topic because it is about naming conventions $\endgroup$– jinaweeFeb 10, 2014 at 14:48
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1 Answer
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It's c for constant or celeritas, which means speed in Latin. Everyone uses it because it's convention. You could use $\xi$ or $\zeta$ or $\gamma$ or any other symbol you wanted, but then you'd have to explain what it meant, and people would have to go through the trouble to remember this every time they read your papers. Better to go with convention and save everyone the headache
answered Feb 10, 2014 at 5:16