No, light does not actually travel faster than light. Light travels at a constant speed in a vacuum, which is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second (or about 186,282 miles per second) in the commonly used units. This speed is often denoted by the symbol 'c' in physics.
When you mention that light covers more distance than a straight line due to its wave nature, it's important to understand that this refers to the concept of wavefronts. A wavefront is an imaginary surface that connects all points of a wave that are in the same phase (e.g., peaks or troughs). In the case of light, it forms wavefronts as it propagates through space.
The wave nature of light allows it to diffract and spread out as it encounters obstacles or passes through small openings, a phenomenon known as diffraction. This diffraction can lead to the spreading of the wavefront, causing the light to cover a larger area than a straight line would suggest.
However, the speed of light itself, which is determined by fundamental properties of the universe, does not change due to this wave behavior. The wavefronts of light are a result of the interaction between the electromagnetic field and the medium through which light propagates, but they do not affect the speed of light itself.
In summary, light does not travel faster than the speed of light, and its wave behavior, including diffraction and wavefronts, does not alter its fundamental speed. The propagation of light can be described by its wave properties, but its speed remains constant in a vacuum.