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Originally posted by: FrankM
What is a perfect physical science constant?
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Good question. It depends on what "perfect" means, but if it is to include the "dimensionless" requirement the it becomes difficult as physics deals with real world stuff while the constants of pure math often deals with things that are not "real" in any physical sense.
Frank, to aid in this discussion could you post some examples of perfect mathematical constants...my knowledge is a bit lacking in that area.
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Each of the constants have numeric values that are dependent upon SI base units or SI derived units. There is not one unit in the list that is an actual invariable universal unit.
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I don't understand. What do you mean? All of them are invariable
AFAIK. What would have to vary is the SI base unit, which would mean the formulae for the constants would have to change. The Planck length is a fixed value, the values we use to explain it are not. There is a big difference.
Now if you say that a mathematical constant are things like Phi, Pi, the Fibonnaci sequence etc then these also apply in the physical realm, of course.
However, some of the physical constants are related to things like the expansion of the universe (the hubble constant and the alpha constant), properties of it (speed of light in a vacuum, gravitational constant) and while these are considered constants they might change over the age of the universe because of the way they are calculated.
John Barrow discusses this in his book, "The Constants of Nature".
Review:
http://www.hypography.com/article.cfm?id=32630
