I came across an interesting note in a physics text. It implied that a change in the gravitational constant would not necessarily be a change in the fundamental constants of the universe.

Was this an artifact in translation, or is the statement actually correct?

Question

I came across an interesting note in a physics text. It implied that a change in the gravitational constant would not necessarily be a change in the fundamental constants of the universe.

Was this an artifact in translation, or is the statement actually correct?

anonymous · Answer

If I recall correctly--but I don't have the text on hand--it also implies that this is true for Planck's constant.

anonymous · Answer

The physics text, by the way, was a translated German book on general non-classical physics, so it included some stuff on relativity and quantum mechanics (separately, of course).

jamesj · Answer

Context is king here.  What does "to be a change in the fundamental constants of the universe" mean?  

In any straight-forward reading of that phrase, a change in the value of G would be such a change.  

So to understand their claim that this would not be such a change, I think we need to know they're talking about more specifically.

anonymous · Answer

I'm going to paraphrase randomly out of memory, but I'm not sure how accurate and technically correct I'll be.

Only constants that are dimensionless in terms of Planck units can change meaningfully.

Gravity is a change in atomic size versus Planck constants, thus it cannot change meaningfully.

Planck's constant, unit of mass-energy respective to inverse time, also cannot change meaningfully (?).

Examples of what can change meaninfully includes electron charge (sqrt fine structure), the exponential (?) of strong coupling, cosmo constant.

anonymous · Answer

Getting the actual text would be impossible, unfortunately, as geography doesn't allow me. XD

anonymous · Answer

That's the beauty of the internet. What is the title of the text? I'll do a university search here.

anonymous · Answer

The translated title is "introduction to non-classical physics (with calculus and algebra)". I don't know what it was originally in German.

anonymous · Answer

I agree with James. The gravitational constant is a fundamental constant of the universe, so your statement is contradictory.

anonymous · Answer

Any arthor information? That title seems to be a popular one.

anonymous · Answer

I'm sorry, my memory isn't good enough to remember names.

anonymous · Answer

There were two authors, both of whom were German, IIRC.

anonymous · Answer

Getting nothing here. Sorry. I'll be sure to look for it if I ever make it to Germany. ;)

anonymous · Answer

Haha.