In physics, the idea of fine tuning is that the very existence of living beings able to perceive and study the physical universe is dependent on many physical constants and relationships being as they currently exist. Small departures from the value of Plank's constant or the speed of light would so radically change physics that our universe, not to mention life itself, might not be able to exist.
We are not working with quantities like the Plank's constant or the speed of light, but we can have the same discussion with several of the constants and relationships we have studied in this chapter.
To complete this discussion activity:
What if?
In this discussion question you will ask "What if?" What if one of the quantities or relationships that we discussed in this module were not as they are today. How would our world operate differently?
In your response address one of the following questions:
- What if the charge of the electron and proton were not perfectly balanced? For instance, what would the electrostatic repulsion between your left and right hand be if the magnitude of the proton charge were 10
-5 larger than the magnitude of the electron charge? What if the gravitational force used positive and negative masses (charges) in the same way that the Coulomb force has positive and negative charges? What if the strength of the Coulomb and the gravitational force were reversed, i.e. gravity force strong and Coulomb force weak? What if the Coulomb force were not divided by r2 but instead divided by r3 or simple r? What if there were no conductors/no insulators?
Post your response of at least 150 words in your own discussion thread. Be sure to include references when appropriate. Post at least 2 substantive responses to the work of your classmates by the end