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This tag is for questions relating to physical constants which are any of a set of fundamental invariant quantities observed in nature and appearing in the basic theoretical equations of physics. Accurate evaluation of these constants is essential in order to check the correctness of the theories and to allow useful applications to be made on the basis of those theories.

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Angular momentum dimensions

The classical angular momentum is $$\vec L = \vec r \times \vec p$$ which has dimension $$ \rm [m] \times [kg\ m\ s^{-1}] = [J\,s] $$ The quantum-mechanical angular momentum operator has the same unit …
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1 vote

Why is the Fermi Constant sometimes listed in units of 'joule metre$^3$'? How is that relate...

In references used by physicists, such as the Particle Data Group summary (pdf link) or the NIST frontend to the CODATA recommended values or even Wikipedia, one finds the “reduced Fermi constant” $$ …
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5 votes
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$G$ expressed as a function of $c$?

You cannot. The constants $G$ and $c$ have different units, so $G$ cannot be equal to $c$ times some dimensionless constant as in your question. From a metrology perspective, $c$ defines how we relat …
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5 votes
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Why does the ladder operator contain the $\hbar ω$ part?

Your product $a^\dagger a = \frac{H}{\hbar\omega} + \frac12$ is dimensionless, because your $a$ and $a^\dagger$ are dimensionless. If the $ \newcommand{\ket}[1]{\left|#1\right>} \ket{\psi_n} $ are the …
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Is Relative Permeability $\mu_0$ still $4\pi \times 10^{-7} $H/m?

The organization which defines the SI is the Bureau Internationale de Poids et Mesures (BIPM). The current version of the SI brochure contains the definitive answer to your question (page 132): The p …
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6 votes
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What exactly is Planck's constant? how did they calculate it?

The equations that govern quantum mechanics predict that the angular momentum (that is, spinning or orbiting) in a system can't take on any value, but instead come in lumps. The "reduced Planck const …
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Physicists adding 3 decimals to the fine structure constant is a big accomplishment. Why?

The fine structure constant tells us the strength of the electromagnetic interaction. There are some misleading statements in the news story. The big one is how to read the result, \begin{align} \alp …
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2 votes

Measurement of the gravitational constant $G$ in free fall

Two platinum spheres in free space might orbit each other in six hours, but near the Earth they would orbit Earth every 1.5 hours. In practice you would be measuring their orbits around the Earth, wh …
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How can vacuum have a permittivity?

The constant $\epsilon_0$ almost never appears in an expression where it's added to another term; it's multiplied instead. Contrast with electric charges, which combine by addition, and for which the …
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3 votes

What is gravitational constant in this context?

To answer this question, use dimensional analysis. You can't add or subtract terms with different units. Two terms are velocities, so the final term $\mu g t \hat u$ must also have velocity units, li …
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0 votes

How to calculate the Avogadro constant from the Loschmidt constant and ideal gas law?

The constant $R$ is the molar gas constant. In your formula, $n$ is the amount of gas measured in moles, and $n/V$ is the molar density. To convert between the number of moles and the number of part …
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4 votes

Redefinition of everything on May 20th, 2019

The new value of $\hbar$ will be consistent with the current CODATA value; it's at the BIPM website. Same for $e$. From here: the vacuum magnetic permeability $\mu_0$ is equal to $4\pi × 10^{–7}\ …
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73 votes
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2002 research: speed of light slowing down?

That result has been controversial since the beginning. A comparable survey looking at a different part of the sky saw no effect, but the original authors and some new collaborators combined data fro …
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1 vote

How is a result of no time variation in the gravitational constant $G$ related to a measurem...

Your mini-question is addressed in this review: the gravitational force on the moon due to the earth is only about 40% the gravitational force on the moon due to the sun, so gravity at length scales c …
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3 votes
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Running Constant Values At Very Low Temperatures

The fine structure constant $\alpha\approx\frac1{137}$ appears in the Coulomb force between fundamental charges: $$ \alpha\hbar c = e^2/4\pi\epsilon_0, \quad\text{so}\quad |E_\text{Coulomb}| = \frac{e …
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