The discussion centers on the theoretical implications of altering the electrical permittivity of vacuum on atomic and material sizes. A physicist seeks to understand how interatomic distances in solids relate to electrical permittivity (E), positing that all atomic distances would scale uniformly with changes in E, regardless of bonding type. The inquiry emphasizes the need for a definitive scaling formula that connects these concepts. The conversation highlights the intersection of fundamental physics with cosmological considerations.
PREREQUISITESPhysicists, materials scientists, and researchers interested in the fundamental properties of matter and the theoretical implications of changing physical constants.
If it was so simple as a homework/textbook problem, I would not have asked for help (being a physicist). I know about all kinds of different bonds, Lennard-Jones potential, Van der Waals forces and all that stuff. I could not find out however how the interatomic distance in a solid for instance depends on the electrical permittivity (E). What I expect (but could not prove) is that the atom size or atomic distance depends always in the same way on E, such that if one could change the permittivity (thought experiment) of the vacuum that all distances would scale in exactly the same way, independent of the type of bond (or the atom considered). So, it would be nice if some of the experts in this forum could come with a simple, founded, scaling formula.Gokul43201 said:What do you think?
This looks like it might be a homework/textbook problem, so we require you to first show us what you think.