What's Dirac's Large Number Hypothesis ?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on Dirac's Large Number Hypothesis, exploring its implications regarding the relationship between fundamental forces and the scale of the universe. Participants examine theoretical aspects, potential interpretations, and related mathematical formulations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes Dirac's observation that the ratio of electrostatic to gravitational forces between an electron and a proton is approximately equal to the ratio of the size of the universe to the size of an electron, suggesting a large number relationship.
  • Another participant proposes the idea that every particle may have a wavefunction limit and a scale-dependent 'Horizon', implying that the size of the universe is not fully known and may be influenced by particles themselves.
  • A different participant asserts that based on the large number hypothesis, the observable universe is roughly 10 billion light-years across, questioning the relationship between temperature changes and corresponding distance increases.
  • One participant emphasizes that size considerations are limited to the observable universe, suggesting that the actual volume may be infinite or transfinite based on existing evidence.
  • A participant discusses the equation relating mass to radius, indicating that it implies a relationship to the Schwarzschild radius and highlights the smallness of the factor involved.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various interpretations and hypotheses regarding the Large Number Hypothesis, with no consensus reached on the implications or the nature of the universe's size.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge limitations in understanding the actual size of the universe and the dependence of their arguments on specific definitions and assumptions related to observable versus actual universe size.

Antonio Lao
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What's Dirac's Large Number Hypothesis ?

In 1938, Dirac noted that the ratio of the electrostatic force between and electron and a proton to their gravitational attraction was approximately equal to the ratio of the size of the universe to the size of an electron )[itex]10^{-20}[/itex] cm.

[tex]\frac{F_{elec}}{F_{grav}} \sim \frac{Size_u}{Size_e} \sim 10^{39}[/tex]

If we equate the gravitational acceleration of some mass, m, to the centripetal acceleration which depends on the velocity of this mass and as this velocity approaches the speed of light in vacuum then this mass is related to a large number product with radius of circular motion.

[tex]m = \left( \frac{c^2}{G} \right) r[/tex]
 
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Could be that everything has a wavefunction limit, every particle has a finite 'Horizon', the limit of which is scale dependent?

The size 'apparent', of the Universe is not fully known. therefore the any ratio of Universe size must be governed by an actual particle, not by the actual Universe.

Particles may know the size of the Universe in relation to themselves?
 
Olias said:
The size 'apparent', of the Universe is not fully known.

Based on the large number hypothesis, the size of the universe is roughly 10 billions light-years across. What is the corresponding increase in distance for a degree decrease in temperature?
 
size considerations concern only the observable universe- the actual volume is almost certainly infinite/transfinite based on all the evidence we have-


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The equation [itex]m = \left( \frac{c^2}{G} \right) r[/itex] implies that [itex]r[/itex] is equal to 1/2 the Schwarzschild radius, [itex]R[/itex].

[tex]R = \frac{2 G m}{c^2}[/tex]

The factor

[tex]\left( \frac{2 G}{c^2} \right)[/tex]

is a very small number.
 

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