• niktemadur@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Meanwhile, Pi and the Fine Structure Constant watching the show, passing each other the popcorn.

    • masterofn001@lemmy.ca
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      2 months ago

      The best part about the fine structure constant is that it is not related to any other thing. It just is.

      It’s a magic number that just emerges in physics.

      And it is not constant.

      Even though it is.

      • niktemadur@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Dimensionless numbers, not dependent on any mere mortal, subjective arbitrary unit of measurement like length (meters or yards or cubits - same difference) or time.
        Whether you are on Earth or a planet in Andromeda or a billion light-years away, if you study subatomic structure you WILL bump into the fraction 1/137. Just like you will in geometry with 3.1416.