# Why the speed of light is represented by $c$? [closed]

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 $c$ ?

• You may check this link Feb 10, 2014 at 5:13
• 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 Feb 10, 2014 at 5:14
• @Zet: you were 46 seocnd faster ;) Feb 10, 2014 at 5:14
• I always thought it stood for "cpeed of light" : ) Feb 10, 2014 at 6:13
• This question appears to be off-topic because it is about naming conventions Feb 10, 2014 at 14:48

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