Cecily Zamora
The laws of physics are often thought of as unchangeable, with scientists assuming that they are immutable and constant everywhere and for all time. However, this assumption has been challenged by new research and theories. For example, in 2018, a group of researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology conducted an experiment using an atomic clock to see if they could detect any changes in the laws of physics over a 14-year period. While they found no evidence of changes during that time, they also acknowledged that subtle changes may still occur and that absolute proof of the immutability of physical laws may be impossible to obtain. Additionally, some scientists have suggested that fundamental constants, such as the fine-structure constant, may not be as constant as previously believed, with evidence suggesting that it may vary over time and space. These findings and theories raise intriguing questions about the nature of physical laws and whether they are truly constant or subject to change over time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Are physical laws constant? | Scientists have not found any proof of physical laws changing over time. |
| Are physical laws constant everywhere in the universe? | It is hard to observe the entire universe, so there is no way to be completely sure. |
| Can physical laws change over time? | While there is no proof of physical laws changing, subtle changes cannot be ruled out. |
| Can physical laws be different in different universes? | Many physicists suggest that many universes may be subjected to different laws of physics. |
| Can physical laws change suddenly? | There is no proof of physical laws changing suddenly. |
| Can physical laws change over billions of years? | Experimental searches have been carried out to observe changes over billions of years, but there is no proof. |
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What You'll Learn
The fine-structure constant
The constant was introduced in 1916 by Arnold Sommerfeld when he was extending the Bohr model of the atom. The constant quantified the gap in the fine structure of the spectral lines of the hydrogen atom, which had been measured precisely by Michelson and Morley in 1887. The fine-structure constant is a combination of the speed of light, the charge of the electron, and the quantum-mechanical number known as Planck's constant. Together, they provide a measure of the inherent strength of electromagnetic interactions, such as those that bind an electron to an atom.
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The speed of light
The laws of physics are often thought of as immutable and constant everywhere and for all time. However, this is hard to prove conclusively. An international group of physicists analysed light from distant quasars and reported that the fine-structure constant, which includes the speed of light, has shifted over billions of years. This would indicate that the speed of light changes over time.
While the speed of light may be constant, the measurements used to determine it are constantly being revised. The metre and second, for example, have been defined in various ways according to different measurement techniques. The metre was once defined as 1,650,763.73 wavelengths of the reddish-orange light from a krypton-86 source. The best atomic clocks are accurate to about one part in 1013.
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The charge of the electron
There is no conclusive evidence that physical laws change over time. However, an international group of physicists analysed light from distant quasars and presented evidence that the fine-structure constant, which combines the speed of light, the charge of the electron, and Planck's constant, has shifted over billions of years. This challenges the assumption that the laws of physics are immutable and constant everywhere and for all time.
The charge of an electron is a fundamental physical constant that remains the same over time. In an isolated system, the total charge stays the same, meaning the amount of positive charge minus the negative charge does not change. The charge of an electron is denoted as -e or −1 e, which is approximately -1.602 x 10^-19 coulombs. This value was first directly measured in 1909 by Robert A. Millikan and Harvey Fletcher through their oil drop experiment. The charge of an electron can also be calculated by carefully analysing the noise of an electric current, a method proposed by Walter H. Schottky.
The electron carries a negative electric charge, while the proton carries a positive charge. Atoms are neutral because they contain the same number of electrons and protons, with the protons in the nucleus and the electrons in orbitals around the nucleus. The distribution of electrons in their orbitals can create a shape that allows the positive charge of the nucleus to show through, creating bonds between atoms and molecules. The charge of an atom does not vary over time due to electron orbits because the charge is constant, and the distribution of electrons shows symmetry in their arrangements.
The charge of an object can be affected by the number of electrons it has. If an object has more electrons than protons, it will have a negative charge, and if it has fewer electrons, it will have a positive charge. Macroscopic objects made of conductive elements can gain or lose electrons, maintaining a net charge indefinitely. This phenomenon is known as static electricity and can be produced by rubbing two dissimilar materials together.
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Planck's constant
There is ongoing debate about whether the laws of physics can change over time. Some scientists argue that the laws of physics are "outside" of time, meaning they are unchanging. However, others suggest that the laws of the universe are probably changing, but the changes are so minimal that they are not perceived or measurable.
The value of Planck's constant in meter-kilogram-second units is 6.62607015 × 10^-34 joule-second, or Joule-Hertz in the International System of Units (SI). This value is also known as the reduced Planck's constant and is more commonly used in modern physics. The reduced Planck's constant is denoted by the symbol h-bar, or ħ, and has a value of 1.054571817 × 10^-34 joule-second.
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The constancy of physical laws
The laws of physics, such as Newton's laws of motion and Einstein's theory of relativity, have been studied and tested for centuries. These laws are considered fundamental, providing a framework for understanding the universe and the behaviour of physical objects. According to the standard definition, a scientific law always applies under the same conditions and implies a causal relationship between its elements. This means that the results of applying a physical law may vary over time, but in a predictable manner, as long as the underlying constants remain constant.
However, in recent years, there have been claims that challenge the immutability of physical laws. In 2012, a group of physicists reported on the constancy of a basic physical constant of nature, the proton-to-electron mass ratio, which supports the standard model of physics. On the other hand, an international group of physicists analysed light from distant quasars and presented evidence that the fine-structure constant, an amalgamation of the speed of light, the charge of the electron, and Planck's constant, has shifted over billions of years. This finding suggests that the fundamental assumptions in physics may need to be re-evaluated.
While the idea of changing physical laws may seem unsettling, it is important to recognise that science is a dynamic field that constantly evolves with new discoveries and insights. As noted by some scientists, the laws of physics are assumed to be constant, but this assumption is not inherently part of the principles of physics. The constancy of physical laws is also related to conservation principles such as the conservation of momentum and energy, implying that these laws are constant throughout space and time. Nonetheless, the possibility of subtle changes in physical constants cannot be entirely ruled out, and further scientific investigation is ongoing.
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Frequently asked questions
Scientists have not found any evidence to support the claim that physical laws change over time. However, it is impossible to observe the entire universe, so we cannot be completely sure.
One experiment that was conducted over 14 years involved using an atomic clock to measure time. The atoms inside the clock absorb energy and then re-emit it in the form of light with a specific frequency. This frequency is so precise that it can measure down to a billionth of a second. If any of the laws of physics changed during the experiment, the researchers would have been able to tell. No changes were detected.
In 1999, a group of astronomers reported that measurements of light absorbed by distant quasars suggested that the value of the fine-structure constant was different billions of years ago than it is today. The fine-structure constant is a combination of the speed of light, the charge of the electron, and Planck's constant, and it provides a measure of the strength of electromagnetic interactions. However, this claim is controversial, and other scientists have proposed alternative explanations for the observed data.
Assuming that physical laws are constant allows us to relate the past behavior of the universe to its current behavior. This assumption forms the basis of the scientific method, which relies on induction and the conjecture that the universe will continue to behave as it has in the past.
