Why is the speed of light?

That's right..Why? not what.

Why is the speed of light roughly 186,000 miles per second?

What is it, in the matter of physics, or in the physics of matter that says:
"Light will travel at a relative speed of 186,000 miles per second". At all times.

Why wasn't the number 210,000 miles per second? Or some other random number?

Is it so intertwined with space and matter, that it was determined at the moment of creation? Did the predetermined mass and velocity of OUR expanding universe create this rule?

As far as I know, they have somehow stopped light in the laboratory and sped it up again: you'll have to google, sry! (going to work in 5 min!)

But definately an interesting Question.

Sammy

I don't know about the other questions but the first is easy. The Speed of light, the actual number is solely dependant upon the arbitrary numbers we assign to units of measurment. If a second was twice as long then the speed of light would be cut in half. The number that is, not the actual speed.

I am pretty sure the question is why is it that number ? Not why is the number/figure/symbol we assigned to it. Am I correct ?

Sardion..

Sure, I understand that..
We've assigned a number, to represent a unit of time.

But disregarding our actual measurement system.
What is it, in our universe that puts the "high end" on the speed of light.
It's not infintely fast, so it has a speed limit. What is the restriction?

Aldolas,
I read a few things about slowing and speeding up of light, while searching for the answer to my question above. It's a bit of a trick..Almost an illusion, and in the end, the speed measurement is still,overall 186,000 MPS..Only parts of the pulse appear to travel at a different rate. But that kind of science might eventually lead to an answer to my particular question.

Thanks!

Ok.

Making some progress here.
It's all in the way you ask Google..LOL

I've got some good returns on the "fine structure constant".
Which deals in some very esoteric ways, with the behavior of matter at the quantum level.

I need to do some reading.
But here is a simplistic? exaplanation of the
Fine Structure Constant