In physics, a dimensionless physical constant (sometimes fundamental physical constant) is a universal physical constant that is dimensionless – having no unit attached, so its numerical value is the same under all possible systems of units. The best known example is the fine structure constant α, with the approximate value 1/137.036.
However, the term fundamental physical constant has also been used (as by NIST) to refer to universal but dimensional physical constants such as the speed of light c, vacuum permittivity ε0, Planck's constant h, or the gravitational constant G.
Read more about Dimensionless Physical Constant: Introduction, Constants in The Standard Model and In Cosmology, Variation of The Constants, Calculation Attempts
Famous quotes containing the words physical and/or constant:
“A separation situation is different for adults than it is for children. When we were very young children, a physical separation was interpreted as a violation of our inalienable rights....As we grew older, the withdrawal of love, whether that meant being misunderstood, mislabeled or slighted, became the separation situation we responded to.”
—Roger Gould (20th century)
“Henry David Thoreau, who never earned much of a living or sustained a relationship with any woman that wasnt brotherlywho lived mostly under his parents roof ... who advocated one days work and six days off as the weekly round and was considered a bit of a fool in his hometown ... is probably the American writer who tells us best how to live comfortably with our most constant companion, ourselves.”
—Edward Hoagland (b. 1932)