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What if physical constants were increased or decreased?

What if physical constants were increased or decreased?

Grade:8

2 Answers

Komal
askIITians Faculty 747 Points
8 years ago
Increasing the value ofℏsignificantly would be pretty interesting, as matter has a wavelength proportional to it. Walking through a doorway might become a new experience as you get diffracted into a wall.

However, this is all backwards thinking. The physical constants calibrate our mathematical models of the universe, likeλ=h/p, not the other way around. So it is better to say that if you got diffracted every time you walked through a doorway, you would need a largeℏto model that.

Additionally, since constants likeℏhave units, their value is somewhat arbitrary anyway. Which brings us to dimensionless constants... here's a good one:

Fgrav/Fem∝Gmmr2Kqqr2∝GK

the ratio of the gravitational to electromagnetic force for a unit charge and mass at a unit distance.

Currently the electromagnetic force kicks gravity's butt, but I wonder what life would be like if that weren't the case.
sajid
615 Points
8 years ago
Increasing the value ofℏsignificantly would be pretty interesting, as matter has a wavelength proportional to it. Walking through a doorway might become a new experience as you get diffracted into a wall.However, this is all backwards thinking. The physical constants calibrate our mathematical models of the universe, likeλ=h/p, not the other way around. So it is better to say that if you got diffracted every time you walked through a doorway, you would need a largeℏto model that.

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