What would happen if Planck constant decreased slightly?

In summary, if the Planck constant were to become marginally smaller, it is likely that the vacuum would start to produce black body radiation. However, in order to accurately predict the effects, one would need to specify exactly which other constants would also change and by how much. If only considering vacuum and photons, specifying that the speed of light remains unchanged may be enough information.
  • #1
zonde
Gold Member
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I have speculative question.
What we would expect to see if Planck constant would become marginally smaller?

My guess is that vacuum would start to produce black body radiation. Does it seems right?
 
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  • #2
There is no way to answer that question as posed. One has to specify exactly which other constants - with different dependencies on the one you change - change and by how much.
 
  • #3
Vanadium 50 said:
There is no way to answer that question as posed. One has to specify exactly which other constants - with different dependencies on the one you change - change and by how much.
If we do not consider matter - only vacuum and photons, would it be enough to specify that speed of light is not changed?
 

What is the Variable Planck constant?

The Variable Planck constant, also known as the reduced Planck constant or Planck's constant over 2π, is a fundamental physical constant that relates the energy of a photon to its frequency. It is denoted by the symbol ħ (pronounced "h-bar").

What is the significance of the Variable Planck constant?

The Variable Planck constant is significant because it plays a crucial role in the quantum theory of matter and radiation. It is used to calculate the energy levels of atoms and molecules, and it is also involved in equations for fundamental physical phenomena such as the photoelectric effect and blackbody radiation.

Why is the Variable Planck constant "variable"?

The Variable Planck constant is called "variable" because its value depends on the system of units used to measure it. In the SI system, its value is fixed at approximately 6.626 x 10^-34 joule seconds, while in the natural units system, its value is set to 1. In other unit systems, the value of the Variable Planck constant may differ.

How was the value of the Variable Planck constant determined?

The value of the Variable Planck constant was first determined by the German physicist Max Planck in 1899. He derived it from his theory of blackbody radiation, which explains the relationship between the temperature of an object and the amount of radiation it emits. Since then, the value of the Variable Planck constant has been measured and confirmed by various experiments, including the famous Millikan oil drop experiment.

Can the value of the Variable Planck constant change over time?

No, the value of the Variable Planck constant is considered a fundamental constant of nature and is believed to be constant over time. However, there are ongoing efforts to precisely measure the value of the Variable Planck constant to see if it may vary at extremely small scales, which could have implications for our understanding of the universe and the laws of physics.

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