Talk:Gaussian units: Difference between revisions
imported>John R. Brews m (→Artifacts) |
imported>John R. Brews m (→Artifacts) |
||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
== Artifacts == | == Artifacts == | ||
The article states "These constants do not represent physical properties of the vacuum, but are artifacts of the SI system. Instead, the Gaussian system uses c. " This remark is rather elliptic, in that the SI units employ a ''defined'' value for ''c'', while the Gaussian units use a measured value. That is a consequence of the SI units employment of transit time of light as a replacement for length. That replacement is made possible by the belief that ''c'' is a universal constant, the same for all observers, and the belief that the medium ''vacuum'' (or [[free space]]) where ''c'' takes on the same value can be identified, or at least measurements referred to it, by all observers. The discussion of these niceties should be expanded or linked to an article where they can be found. [[User:John R. Brews|John R. Brews]] 13: | The article states "These constants do not represent physical properties of the vacuum, but are artifacts of the SI system. Instead, the Gaussian system uses c. " This remark is rather elliptic, in that the SI units employ a ''defined'' value for ''c'', while the Gaussian units use a measured value. That is a consequence of the SI units employment of transit time of light as a replacement for length. That replacement is made possible by the belief that ''c'' is a universal constant, the same for all observers, and the belief that the medium ''vacuum'' (or [[Free space (electromagnetism)|free space]]) where ''c'' takes on the same value can be identified, or at least measurements referred to it, by all observers. The discussion of these niceties should be expanded or linked to an article where they can be found. [[User:John R. Brews|John R. Brews]] 13:48, 29 November 2010 (UTC) | ||
Latest revision as of 07:48, 29 November 2010
Artifacts
The article states "These constants do not represent physical properties of the vacuum, but are artifacts of the SI system. Instead, the Gaussian system uses c. " This remark is rather elliptic, in that the SI units employ a defined value for c, while the Gaussian units use a measured value. That is a consequence of the SI units employment of transit time of light as a replacement for length. That replacement is made possible by the belief that c is a universal constant, the same for all observers, and the belief that the medium vacuum (or free space) where c takes on the same value can be identified, or at least measurements referred to it, by all observers. The discussion of these niceties should be expanded or linked to an article where they can be found. John R. Brews 13:48, 29 November 2010 (UTC)