The distance that light travels in a vacuum is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second (km/s) or about 186,282 miles per second (mi/s). This value is often rounded to 300,000 kilometers per second or approximately 186,000 miles per second for simplicity.
This speed is often referred to as the "speed of light" and is denoted by the symbol "c" in scientific equations. It is a fundamental constant in physics and plays a crucial role in various scientific disciplines, including optics, relativity, and quantum mechanics.
It's important to note that the speed of light can vary when it travels through different media other than a vacuum, such as air, water, or glass. In such cases, the speed of light is slower due to interactions with the atoms or molecules in the medium, leading to effects like refraction.