TeXes Science Practice Test 2026 - Free Science Exam Practice Questions and Study Guide

The electric constant, also known as the permittivity of free space and denoted as ε0, is a fundamental physical constant that appears in equations related to electromagnetism. Mathematically, it is expressed in relation to the magnetic constant (μ0) and the speed of light in a vacuum (c0) through the equation \( \varepsilon_0 = \frac{1}{\mu_0 c_0^2} \).

This relationship arises from Maxwell's equations, which describe how electric and magnetic fields propagate and interact. The speed of light c0 in a vacuum is determined by both μ0 and ε0, as they define how electromagnetic waves travel through space.

In this specific expression, 1/(μ0c0²) illustrates that the electric constant inversely relates to the product of the magnetic constant and the square of the speed of light, demonstrating the deep interconnections between these fundamental constants in the framework of electromagnetism and wave propagation in physics.