How fast is a signal?

Answer 1

Before we can investigate that question, we must agree on what a "signal" is.

Since I'm the one doing the investigating at the moment, I'll suggest what I think

it is: A 'signal' is a transfer of information from one place to another.

Now that we all agree on the definition of 'a signal', we can proceed to think about

how fast it is. As soon as we begin to think, we immediately discover that different

signals have different speeds. It all depends on what method you decide to use

to move your information (your message) from place to place.

Here are several methods, grouped roughly according to their speed:

Slowest:

-- ordinary mail

-- carrier snail

-- newspaper advertising

-- periodical magazine

-- billboards

-- office bulletin board

-- leaflets

-- Voyager/Pioneer Record

-- buried time capsule

Medium:

-- jungle drums

-- shouting/talking

-- carrier pigeon

-- horns/sirens

-- smoke signals

Fastest:

-- semaphore

-- heliograph

-- radio

-- TV

-- telephone

-- fiberoptics

-- satellite repeater

Fastest possible signal . . . 300,000 kilometers per second / speed of light .

Slowest possible signal . . . no limit. No matter how slowly you deliver the message,

I can always do it slower than you.