I have often wondered how it is that, for example, a Hydrogen atom in
one place is the same size as a Hydrogen atom in another place?

Two thoughts often come into my mind:

1. The size of a Hydrogen atom is determined by a physical constant of
some type. But then I wonder how can the physical constant know how to
be constant? If we talk about light, then how does it know how fast it
should go?

2. The question is wrong: the size is indeterminate. It doesn't
matter, since somehow the local physical "constant" is changed enough
to balance out the changes in the size. So we see nothing unusual.
Similarly, the whole universe could be changing in size continuously,
and if all constants change at the same time, then how would we know?

Sorry for the ramblings of a physics layman... but I would be
interested to know if anyone has any thoughts on this.

You're jerking yourself around asking metaphysical questions, not physics
questions. This group is about physics, not metaphysics.

John Anderson

Dave wrote:

I have often wondered how it is that, for example, a Hydrogen atom in
one place is the same size as a Hydrogen atom in another place?

Two thoughts often come into my mind:

1. The size of a Hydrogen atom is determined by a physical constant of
some type. But then I wonder how can the physical constant know how to
be constant? If we talk about light, then how does it know how fast it
should go?

2. The question is wrong: the size is indeterminate. It doesn't
matter, since somehow the local physical "constant" is changed enough
to balance out the changes in the size. So we see nothing unusual.
Similarly, the whole universe could be changing in size continuously,
and if all constants change at the same time, then how would we know?

Sorry for the ramblings of a physics layman... but I would be
interested to know if anyone has any thoughts on this.

(Dave) wrote in message . com...
I have often wondered how it is that, for example, a Hydrogen atom in
one place is the same size as a Hydrogen atom in another place?

Two thoughts often come into my mind:

1. The size of a Hydrogen atom is determined by a physical constant of
some type. But then I wonder how can the physical constant know how to
be constant? If we talk about light, then how does it know how fast it
should go?

2. The question is wrong: the size is indeterminate. It doesn't
matter, since somehow the local physical "constant" is changed enough
to balance out the changes in the size. So we see nothing unusual.
Similarly, the whole universe could be changing in size continuously,
and if all constants change at the same time, then how would we know?

Sorry for the ramblings of a physics layman... but I would be
interested to know if anyone has any thoughts on this.

The best answer that can be given in the context of science is
probably less than satisfying for you: the laws of physics.

Patrick

Thank you for your courteous answers.
Sorry to have wasted your time.

Best regards,
Dave

Dear Dave:

"Dave" wrote in message
om...
I have often wondered how it is that, for example, a Hydrogen atom in
one place is the same size as a Hydrogen atom in another place?

Sorry, I saw your sign off, so maybe this is too late for your notice.

Two thoughts often come into my mind:

1. The size of a Hydrogen atom is determined by a physical constant of
some type. But then I wonder how can the physical constant know how to
be constant? If we talk about light, then how does it know how fast it
should go?

If spacetime is the product of the mass/energy contained in it, then every
bit of matter and energy are "loosely" connected. Communication of
"physical law" was handled in the first 10^-35 sec or so after the "Big
Bang". Only "alterations" to the law would need to propagate afterwards.

2. The question is wrong: the size is indeterminate. It doesn't
matter, since somehow the local physical "constant" is changed enough
to balance out the changes in the size. So we see nothing unusual.
Similarly, the whole universe could be changing in size continuously,
and if all constants change at the same time, then how would we know?

If the size of things is changing at the rate of the Hubble parameter, then
we wouldn't know. There are a few measures that we use to judge the
distance to distant objects. The subtended size (angularly, how big is
it), is in good agreement with the other methods, so it is unlikely that
object size is varying differently than Universal expansion.

Sorry for the ramblings of a physics layman... but I would be
interested to know if anyone has any thoughts on this.

Sorry you felt you got less than a warm welcome.

David A. Smith

"N:dlzc D:aol T:com \(dlzc\)" N: dlzc1 D:cox wrote in message news:aFGwc.52107$mm1.1018@fed1read06...
Dear Dave:

"Dave" wrote in message
om...
I have often wondered how it is that, for example, a Hydrogen atom in
one place is the same size as a Hydrogen atom in another place?

Sorry, I saw your sign off, so maybe this is too late for your notice.

Two thoughts often come into my mind:

1. The size of a Hydrogen atom is determined by a physical constant of
some type. But then I wonder how can the physical constant know how to
be constant? If we talk about light, then how does it know how fast it
should go?

If spacetime is the product of the mass/energy contained in it, then every
bit of matter and energy are "loosely" connected. Communication of
"physical law" was handled in the first 10^-35 sec or so after the "Big
Bang". Only "alterations" to the law would need to propagate afterwards.

2. The question is wrong: the size is indeterminate. It doesn't
matter, since somehow the local physical "constant" is changed enough
to balance out the changes in the size. So we see nothing unusual.
Similarly, the whole universe could be changing in size continuously,
and if all constants change at the same time, then how would we know?

If the size of things is changing at the rate of the Hubble parameter, then
we wouldn't know. There are a few measures that we use to judge the
distance to distant objects. The subtended size (angularly, how big is
it), is in good agreement with the other methods, so it is unlikely that
object size is varying differently than Universal expansion.

Sorry for the ramblings of a physics layman... but I would be
interested to know if anyone has any thoughts on this.

Sorry you felt you got less than a warm welcome.

David A. Smith

Thanks, David.
No, I never felt anything negative. Judging from some of the other
annos, I think I escaped unscathed (But for future readers...please
don't take that as an invitation!).

Dear Dave:

"Dave" wrote in message
m...
"N:dlzc D:aol T:com \(dlzc\)" N: dlzc1 D:cox wrote in
message news:aFGwc.52107$mm1.1018@fed1read06...
....
Sorry you felt you got less than a warm welcome.

Thanks, David.

No issues. I'll help if I can...

No, I never felt anything negative. Judging from some of the other
annos,

"annos"? Que? What? From context, I'd say that meant "newbie" or
"posters", but I'm not sure...

I think I escaped unscathed (But for future readers...please
don't take that as an invitation!).

You must understand that you get what you get. I have spent part of my
incarnation as a crank myself, yet I was able to get a straight answer from
Mr. Varney even then. It is a matter of asking a serious question, and not
getting emotional, or at least not putting the emotion between yourself and
"Truth" or "Knowledge". Most people are truly here because:
1) they want answers (yourself, for example),
2) they want to help (most others).

Some are here to sell tripe (books, web sites, virus-laden executable
files, your email address, whatever). Some are here for the soap opera.
You get what you get.

Over and out.

David A. Smith

"N:dlzc D:aol T:com \(dlzc\)" wrote
No, I never felt anything negative. Judging from some of the other
annos,

"annos"? Que? What? From context, I'd say that meant "newbie" or
"posters", but I'm not sure...

Sorry: annotations (lazy typist).
Also: over and out.
Thanks.