clipka <ano### [at] anonymousorg> wrote:
> Well, obviously it cannot change units of measurements: Those are 
> /defined/. What it /can/ change is (a) practical realizations of 
> measurements, and (b) possibly the value of natural "constants" as 
> expressed in these units of measurement.

  I don't think that's the case, given that units of measurements (at least
in the SI system) are defined by natural constants, not the other way around.

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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Mike Raiford wrote:
> http://blogs.ngm.com/blog_central/2009/10/a-grander-k.html

They've been talking about this since at least the mid 90s (when I first 
heard about it), but this is the first time I've actually seen a picture 
of the weight they use.  Nice and shiny :)

...Chambers

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On 10/13/2009 12:59 PM, Warp wrote:
>    As far as I have understood, explanation #1 is a misconception. Distances
> between subatomic particles is not growing because the forces keeping atoms
> and molecules together is way stronger than any minuscule drift that the
> expansion of the universe might cause.

The gravitational force of the sun is also "way stronger" than the 
gravitational force of the Hubble telescope. That doesn't mean it has 
zero effect on us sitting here in front of our computers. :)

-Mike

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Warp schrieb:
> clipka <ano### [at] anonymousorg> wrote:
>> Well, obviously it cannot change units of measurements: Those are 
>> /defined/. What it /can/ change is (a) practical realizations of 
>> measurements, and (b) possibly the value of natural "constants" as 
>> expressed in these units of measurement.
> 
>   I don't think that's the case, given that units of measurements (at least
> in the SI system) are defined by natural constants, not the other way around.

Well, that's actually far from the truth. For instance, the 
gravitational constant is nowhere to be found in the SI system, nor is 
the planck mass, electron charge etc.

As a matter of fact, the only /fundamental/ natural constant presently 
used in the SI system is the speed of light; all other SI units are 
based on physical properties that are only indirectly affected by 
natural constants.

And no, units of measurement cannot change /by definition/, because it's 
by them that we measure the properties of the world, including natural 
constants.

This is counter-intuitive to what any sane person would think (which is 
why you're disputing it I guess) - but who said that scientists are sane 
in the first place?

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