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 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 is likely to be incapable of supporting life. Did some cosmic clockmaker set these parameters? Isaac Newton thought so.
One of the crucial fundamental of those numbers is the electrical fixed, ok. It is a worth that lets us calculate the forces between electrical fees. That’s a giant deal when you think about that each one matter is manufactured 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 part 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 elementary constants? And for that matter, is it actually elementary? Let’s examine.
Coulomb’s Legislation 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 grow to be 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 might contain a nuclear response, which no person needs.)
You probably have two objects with reverse fees, they appeal to. If they’ve the identical cost, they repel. This is a demo you are able to do your self: Take a chunk 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, when you separate them, one might be constructive and one might be adverse; maintain them in proximity and they’ll bend towards one another.
For those who repeat the method, you’ll have two constructive and two adverse tapes. Maintain two with related fees close to one another, and also you’ll see that they repel, like within the image beneath:
