It is enjoyable to take into consideration the elemental bodily constants. These are particular values utilized in our fashions of the bodily universe. They embody issues just like the velocity of sunshine, the gravitational fixed, and Planck’s fixed, they usually’re “basic” within the sense that we won’t derive them theoretically, we are able to solely measure them.
We use these in fixing physics issues on a regular basis, so it’s straightforward to take them without any consideration. However why are there such numbers in nature, and why do they simply occur to have these particular values? As a result of, pay attention, in the event that they have been solely barely totally different, the universe is perhaps incapable of supporting life. Did some cosmic clockmaker set these parameters? Isaac Newton thought so.
Probably the most primary of those numbers is the electrical fixed, okay. It is a worth that lets us calculate the forces between electrical costs. That’s a giant deal when you think about that each one matter is made from simply three issues—electrons, neutrons, and protons, two of which have an electrical cost. The interplay between electrons is what varieties molecules to create you and every thing round you. In any other case it might all be just a few undifferentiated soup.
However how do we all know the worth of the electrical fixed? Additionally, what does it need to do with different basic constants? And for that matter, is it actually basic? Let’s examine.
Coulomb’s Regulation and Fixed
Once we say one thing has an electrical cost, we imply it has a special variety of protons and electrons. In case your garments dryer removes some electrons out of your socks, they change into positively charged. In the event that they achieve electrons, they’ll be negatively charged. (Be aware: You possibly can’t take away protons, since they’re within the nucleus of the atom. It will contain a nuclear response, which no person desires.)
When you’ve got two objects with reverse costs, they appeal to. If they’ve the identical cost, they repel. This is a demo you are able to do your self: Take a bit of clear tape and place it on a clean desk. Then put a second piece on prime of that one, and pull them off collectively. Now, in case you separate them, one might be constructive and one might be damaging; maintain them in proximity and they’ll bend towards one another.
In the event you repeat the method, you’ll have two constructive and two damaging tapes. Maintain two with related costs close to one another, and also you’ll see that they repel, like within the image under:
