What is Planck: Definition and 388 Discussions

Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck, (German: [maks ˈplaŋk] (listen); English: ; 23 April 1858 – 4 October 1947) was a German theoretical physicist whose discovery of energy quanta won him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918.Planck made many substantial contributions to theoretical physics, but his fame as a physicist rests primarily on his role as the originator of quantum theory, which revolutionized human understanding of atomic and subatomic processes. In 1948, the German scientific institution Kaiser Wilhelm Society (of which Planck was twice president) was renamed Max Planck Society (MPS). The MPS now includes 83 institutions representing a wide range of scientific directions.

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  1. A

    Insight on holography at the planck scale

    Part of my basic understanding of the holographic principal is that the amount information in a given area of space is less than the surface area that surrounds that region (measured in Planck units squared). The exception being that in the case of a black hole the information stored within an...
  2. G

    Gravity affects quarks at the Planck length and Planck energy

    This comes form the wiki article on quarks: Does that mean that when two Quarks come as close to each other as the Planck distance 10-33m then gravity must be taken account if one is to understand their movement? I know vaguely that the Planck energy is the point at which a black hole...
  3. B

    What events led to the final gunshot?

    I am trying to remember a quote I once read by Max Planck. Max Planck, Albert Einstein, and other scientists were at a meeting or convention regarding relativity or some other scientific theory. Planck said something like "As the [some scientific theory] cannot extend the time for this...
  4. S

    Understanding Planck Units: The Impact of kB in Temperature Definition

    Hello, Planck units are defined here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planck_units Length, mass and time are defined via G, c and \hbar and do not involve kB; But temperature contains all G, c and \hbar and kB; Perhaps this is okay; just seems "uneven" that kB appears with a zero power in...
  5. liometopum

    Does GR produce the Planck relation and uncertainty principles?

    Can the Planck relation, and the Heisenberg and the time-energy uncertainty principles be derived, or produced, from the equations of General Relativity?
  6. J

    Is a Planck length really the smallest length?

    I am just an interested high school physics student so I don't really know much about the subject, but I am given to understand that a Planck length is the smallest length. It cannot be further subdivided and no length smaller can be measured even with a great advancement in measuring...
  7. S

    Planck 2013 Conference: April 2-5

    I just noticed this has been announced by ESA, maybe its old news, so apologies if it is; but it looks like we have a date for the first cosmological data release of PLanck http://congrexprojects.com/13a11 2-5 April 2013 "The objective of the conference is to present and discuss the...
  8. Y

    Proof of Planck Length: A Pedological Derivation

    Hi all, Does anybody can provide a source that can prove Planck's length from scratch ? I mean from classical mechanics to quantum mechanics, a pedological proof/derivation ? Thanks in advance.
  9. Chronos

    Is a tabletop search for Planck scale signals feasible

    This paper - http://arxiv.org/abs/1211.3816 - by Beckenstein is fascinating. I would like to know if the experimental test proposal is realistic.
  10. B

    Can We Move in Planck Length and Dimension at the Time of the Big Bang?

    Hello all . We know Planck length is and universe was in that density at big bang . Is that mean there was dimension at that time ? I mean , can we move in Planck length ? like up , down, right, left, forward, backward ؟
  11. E

    Can the Speed of Light Be Exceeded by Manipulating Distance and Velocity?

    Today I was driving down the road, on the side of the road, there was a fence made of many vertical slats. I noticed that that sun was blinking on and off like a strobe light, as each individual slat would shield the sun, and each space in between the slats would expose it. I thought, if my...
  12. S

    Planck Length Paradox: Radius & Area

    Assuming that a Planck length is the smallest unit of distance, I propose this: Assume there was a circle of radius r and had an area of A. If I would increase this circle's area by 1 Planck length^2, would the radius change? The radius would theoretically change by less than a Planck...
  13. K

    Some questions on planck constant

    Hi there, I am reading something on quantization, semi-classical approximation of a quantum system and related topics. There are few statements are pretty confusing. First of all, in many material, whenever they mention the quantization, they refer to a commutator, like [\hat{A}, \hat{B}] =...
  14. T

    Help with Understanding Conclusions of the Planck Hypothesis

    Let me start off by saying that I really only have a few weeks experience beyond the introductory physics courses, so I apologize in advance for any gross misconceptions I have. In trying to understand Planck's theory, I came upon a number of confusions that I am having trouble reconciling...
  15. TrickyDicky

    Planck spacecraft's findings

    This can be read in the ESA site on news about the Planck probe: " Planck has also detected a mysterious haze of microwaves that presently defies explanation. It comes from the region surrounding the galactic centre and looks like a form of energy called synchrotron emission. This is...
  16. D

    Planck Intermediate Results. IX. Detection of the Galactic haze with Planck

    Can someone explain to me this paper in laymans terms? I don't get it. They are claiming discovery of a new method of acceleration of cosmic rays in the centre of the galaxy. URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/1208.5483 Paper: Planck Intermediate Results. IX. Detection of the Galactic haze with...
  17. G

    Planck satellite, gravitational waves

    Has the Planck satellite observed any gravitational waves yet? I'm pretty sure that gravitational waves were formed when gravity split from the other forces at 10^-43 seconds but I could be wrong. Anyhow, if we do detect them, will we be looking at the first Planck time in our universe's...
  18. J

    Planck time/length infinite and defined?

    Wouldn't the shortest interval of time and the smallest object always be an infinite #? How can you ever stop splitting something in half? Hard to fathom on that level I guess. Logic tells me they are infinite?
  19. F

    Is the Planck length relative?

    If space contracts relative to the motion of an observer, would two observers traveling at different speeds disagree on the Planck length? Or is the Planck length constant such that two observers would agree on the Planck length, but would disagree about how many Planck lengths long certain...
  20. J

    Langevin equation to Fokker Planck

    Homework Statement This isn't actually homework but I'm really interested in finding the solution. So I have the langevin equation dy/dt = -dV/dy +η(t) where V(y) = -by^3/3 + ζy how can I turn this into a fokker-planck equation? Homework...
  21. F

    Dumb Question: Is there a Planck length for probability

    I was listening to people in another forum discuss the idea of Quantum Immortality, and the thought occurred to me, is there a point where the odds of something occurring become so small, that they aren't just extremely, extremely remote, they are in fact, zero? For example, if we took a...
  22. R

    What Happens Below the Planck Length?

    This comes from Alex Vilenskin's Many Worlds in One: I didn't think there was such a distance below the Planck length.
  23. marcus

    From Boomerang to Planck: reading the ancient light

    Many of us, probably most, know Smoot and Mather got the 2006 Nobel "for their discovery of the blackbody form and anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation." But there is more to the story, other scientists other instruments other features of the early universe discovered in the...
  24. E

    Planck distance and less dimensional gravity

    If we imagine 2+1 dimensional gravity, I think that this influences on Planck distance and time. Because attraction between two bodies can be described: F = m_1 m_2 G/r F= force, m are masses, G is changed gravitational constant and r is distance between two bodies. So G does not have...
  25. D

    Understanding Planck Length and Time in Relation to Spacetime and Acceleration

    Planck length and Planck time are constants, correct? If spacetime changes for an observer who accelerates to subluminal velocities, what happens to these units? If they're constant I'm guessing they can't be "stretched" or "squashed". So do they change in number for a given measurement (say...
  26. B

    Exploring the Limits: Planck Units and the Singularity of Black Holes

    Do Planck units apply inside of black holes? Are they modified? Or are they irrelevant? If some Planck units remain unchanged and applicable in black holes, which ones would those be?
  27. D

    Planck length - what is it really?

    Hello everyone. After reading most of the existing topics on the Planck length, I still haven't found what the Planck length really is. Some references say nothing can possibly be smaller than the Planck length, whereas others say it's just a threshold below which "special" things happen...
  28. T

    Does Planck length and irrational solutions mean time can't be reversed?

    If there is an irrational solution to an equation for where a particle should be, for example from an ODE, then what effect does Planck length have on that? Does the actual position of the particle get rounded to an a multiple of the Planck length? If it does, wouldn't that imply there is a loss...
  29. P

    Planck constant V in E=qV question

    Planck constant "V" in E=qV question 1. Homework Statement I am trying to prove Planck's constant using LEDs. So far I have measured several LED's wavelengths using a spectrometer and from this their frequency. This will be f in the equation h = E/f. For E I put the LEDs in a forward biased...
  30. yunusbsk

    What is the derivation of fokker planck equation?

    do you know where fokker-planck equation comes from?
  31. B

    From the Planck length to the Observable Universe

    Here is a study in distances based on powers of ten of the meter. It gives easy-to-see graphic examples of relative size, from the Plank length out to the Observable Universe. Imho, a great teaching aid. http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/589217
  32. S

    Unraveling the Mysteries of Planck Scale Physics and Quantum Gravity

    Quantum Gravity only becomes a problem when we probe below the Planck scale. This is because we don't know what occurs inside a singularity in a Black Hole or in the initial condition of the Big Bang when the universe was supposed to be in Planck density. The Planck scale is also the origin of...
  33. K

    Why Planck Scale? Reasons & String Theory

    What are the reasons for scientists believing the Planck scale is the smallest unit of length? I have been hearing a lot of this length scale recently and i know we can't even do expiremental research at these small of levels. I'm wondering where they got the idea that strings [from string...
  34. J

    Question about planck lengths/quantized space and expanding space?

    If I'm not mistaken, it is thought that space is divided up into quantized little indivisible chunks, the size of which is called the Planck length. Also, the space of the universe is thought to be expanding. We could have 2 objects stationary relative to one another at some time t_0, then...
  35. S

    Exploring Planck World: The Search for the Final Theory

    What do you think about Planck world? It is the heart and meat of search for Final Theory. Do you believe time doesn't exist in Planck world? http://discovermagazine.com/2007/jun/in-no-time/article_view?b_start:int=1&-C= Or do you believe Space doesn't exist there in Planck world...
  36. J

    Exploring the Physical Meaning of Planck Units

    I've been looking at the various Planck units, and I'm wondering how they are constructed from the constants involved. Like is there any physical reasoning behind those equations? I've looked all over the place for derivations of the equations or what the actual physical meaning of the units...
  37. S

    Can someone clear up the implications of Planck units once and for all?

    Time and time again I always hear people say that Planck Lengths are the smallest units of meaningful distance. But I don't think this implies nothing can be smaller than this or that spacetime is discrete, correct? It just means talking about anything smaller than this would be like talking...
  38. J

    Theoretical Particles @ Planck Scale: Is there a maximum wavelength of light?

    First time poster so please be gentle... E = h * f f = c / wavelength 1) Is there a theoretical limit on maximum f (minimum wavelength of Planck length)? 2) Is there a theoretical limit on minimum f of 1 (maximum wavelength of c)? (ie// the maximum distance that a photon can cover in...
  39. T

    The universe, planck time and the game of life

    Is the universe similar to Conways game of life? Let me elaborate. For us, a second is the unit of time and its a pretty short unit of time. But then at the atomic scale, a second is a pretty big unit of time. Everything we do is in the order of seconds or maybe milliseconds. But so much happens...
  40. S

    Planck Time Problem: Calculation & Explanation

    Homework Statement Hi Guys, Just started a Mechanical Engineering Course and in my Physics this came up, I'm really confused and don't know were to start. I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on the subject. Thanks guys. Three of the fundamental constants of physics are the...
  41. B

    Exploring the Theoretical Nature of Planck Time with Michio Kaku on Cspan BookTV

    I was watching indepth on cspan booktv with Michio Kaku and he says that the Planck time has not be proven. I thought it was a proven fact, but he says it is still theoretical and we have no evidence for it yet. Is this true?
  42. K

    Planck constant is Lorentz invariant?

    It is widely recognized in physics textbooks that Planck constant is a "universal constant". But I nerver see a proof. As we know, in the special theory of relativity, c is a universal constant, namely a Lorentz invariant, which is Einstein's hypothesis. But How do we know the Plack constant h...
  43. E

    Please help me find Entropy and Temperature of Radiant Heat by Max Planck

    Please help me find "Entropy and Temperature of Radiant Heat" by Max Planck I would like to read "Entropy and Temperature of Radiant Heat" by Max Planck in English. Please help me find this if you have any ideas how. Thank you!
  44. R

    Is there a way to derive Planck's Law without using a cavity?

    It is perfectly possible to derive, for instance, the Maxwell distribution of speeds in a heuristic way with only two things: 1. The Gibbs hypothesis, which says that to count the number of states at speed v you take all the points in phase space between v and v+dv in velocity space. This...
  45. Y

    ESA Planck Mission photograph.

    I want to know as much as I can about this picture. http://www.esa.int/images/PLANCK_FSM_03_Black.jpg Its the most beautiful picture I've ever seen. What an accomplishment. Must have been one heck of a party when they seen this for the first time. Now here's what my brain sees when I...
  46. R

    Can the Planck Function Determine Single Photon Emitted Flux?

    For my own edification. The Planck Function when integrated over all wavelengths will give the radiated power per unit area for a black body. Would I be right in thinking, that if I had a known temperature for the black body source or indeed a kT value for that source that by using the...
  47. D

    Is planck time the same in all reference frames?

    Quick question: Is Planck time the same in all reference frames? Is it different at, say, half the speed of light than at a relatively stationary point? What about in a severe gravitational field, like a black hole?
  48. K

    Do planck frequency photons form near black holes?

    Locally, photons "blue-shift" when falling down a gravitational field. What happens when they arrive at the Planck frequency? Do they turn back into matter?
  49. C

    Planck instant and neurobiology. Could mind exist outside time-courses?

    Although the title mentions biology the answers I need are from physics. If I have understood it correctly Argentinian Electroneurobiology assumes mind to take place at the actions of a force field overlapping the electromagnetic field of the brain. I think. An exposition...
  50. C

    Hypothetical situation of planck length object and lightspeed

    Initially known theories: 1. General consensus: Planck length is smallest measurable unit of length 2. Objects approacing light speed contract in length Scenario: Some hypothetical mass measured to be a Planck length is accelerated infinitely close to light speed. Questions: Can a...
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