What Happens If We Change Just One Physical Constant?

[Lamdbaenergy]

So, I know that there are already three absolutely mandatory physical constants, like the gravitational constant, the Planck constant, and the speed of light. But what if you only changed the value of one constant? For example, if you changed the value of the gravitational constant to 4.4663 x 10^ -19, would other constants change too, or would they stay the same? In another case, you end up changing the light constant from 299,792,458 meters per second to only 45,643,111 meters per second. I'm pretty sure that would inevitably mean a drastic change in the strength of the electromagnetic force, but would it also lead to a change in pretty much all other constants, also?

One last thing, which constant would be the worst to change? Like, "destroy a universe" kind of worst?

 

[Doug Huffman]

Sommerfield's Fine Structure Constant 7.29735257×10−3

 

[davenn]

if the value could change, it wouldn't be a constant any more, aye

 

[Lamdbaenergy]

if the value could change, it wouldn't be a constant any more, aye

Alright, but what about values in other universes?

 

[pmacias]

I cannot say for certain what would happen if one of these physical constants were changed. However, it is likely that changing one constant would have a ripple effect on other constants and the laws of physics as a whole. This is because physical constants are interconnected and play a crucial role in determining the behavior of the universe.

In the example you provided, changing the value of the gravitational constant would likely lead to changes in other constants, such as the strength of the electromagnetic force. This could potentially have far-reaching consequences for the structure and dynamics of the universe.

As for which constant would be the worst to change, it is difficult to say. Each constant plays a unique and important role in the functioning of the universe, so changing any one of them could have catastrophic effects. However, some scientists argue that changing the value of the cosmological constant, which determines the expansion rate of the universe, could have the most drastic consequences. It is often referred to as the "fine-tuning problem" as even a slight change in its value could result in a vastly different universe.

Ultimately, it is important to remember that these constants are finely tuned to allow for the existence of life on Earth. Any drastic changes to them would likely make our universe uninhabitable. This highlights the incredible precision and complexity of the universe we live in, and the importance of understanding and preserving these physical constants.