It is enjoyable to take into consideration the basic bodily constants. These are particular values utilized in our fashions of the bodily universe. They embrace issues just like the pace of sunshine, the gravitational fixed, and Planck’s fixed, and so they’re “elementary” within the sense that we will not 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 with no consideration. However why are there such numbers in nature, and why do they only occur to have these particular values? As a result of, pay attention, in the event that they had been solely barely completely different, the universe could be incapable of supporting life. Did some cosmic clockmaker set these parameters? Isaac Newton thought so.
One of the vital primary of those numbers is the electrical fixed, okay. It is a worth that lets us calculate the forces between electrical expenses. That’s a giant deal when you think about that every one matter is fabricated from simply three issues—electrons, neutrons, and protons, two of which have an electrical cost. The interplay between electrons is what types molecules to create you and all the things round you. In any other case it will 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 elementary constants? And for that matter, is it actually elementary? Let’s examine.
Coulomb’s Regulation and Fixed
Once we say one thing has an electrical cost, we imply it has a unique 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. (Word: 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 needs.)
In case you have two objects with reverse expenses, they entice. 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 high of that one, and pull them off collectively. Now, should you separate them, one shall be constructive and one shall be adverse; maintain them in proximity and they’ll bend towards one another.
If you happen to repeat the method, you’ll have two constructive and two adverse tapes. Maintain two with related expenses close to one another, and also you’ll see that they repel, like within the image beneath: