In a separate article titled 'Permittivity and Permeability Constants of Vacuum', we discussed at length various aspects of these constants. Some scientists considered these parameters to be 'mere' proportionality constants, which do not represent any physical characteristics of the 'vacuum'. Others regarded these dimensional parameters to be of great significance in characterizing the physical properties of the entity called 'vacuum'. In view of the general disagreement on the nature of 'Permittivity and Permeability Constants of Vacuum', let us further analyze and evaluate the significance of these parameters through an entirely different approach.
Let us consider a highly complex system characterized by a large number of physical parameters. The overall state of the system will depend on the value of all these parameters, some of which may also be interdependent. Obviously, some of these parameters may be highly significant while others may be marginally significant in characterizing the overall state of the system. The significance of a physical parameter may be ascertained as follows. We may vary the given physical parameter through all possible ranges and study the corresponding variation in the overall state of the system. Variation of most significant parameters will produce a drastic or most significant change in the overall state of the system. On the other hand, variation of least significant parameters will produce only a marginal or least significant change in the overall state of the system. Consider the whole observable Universe as the main system under study and Permittivity & Permeability Constants of Vacuum as the two parameters, the significance of which is to be evaluated. As a thought experiment, let us vary the 'value' of e0 and m0 through zero to infinity and study the consequent overall state of the Universe.
To begin with, let us consider the specific case when e0 = 0 and m0 = 0 and examine the corresponding variation of all other dependent parameters and the consequent overall state of the Universe.
§ As a first consequence c will become infinite as seen from the relation, Sqrt(e0.m0) = 1/c = 0 …....... (1)
§ The second major consequence that follows from 1/c = 0, will be the complete collapse of special theory of relativity.
§
The third consequence that follows from m0=0, is that from Biot-Savart
law, no magnetic field
will be produced by charges in motion.
§ The fourth major consequence that follows from 1/c = 0 & m0 = 0 is that electromagnetic waves will not exist in the vacuum. Even the photons will not be able to exist, since for any finite energy and corresponding finite frequency, their wavelength will approach infinity.
§ The fifth major consequence that follows from 1/c = 0,
and the mass-energy relation m = E/c2 = 0 ......................(2)
is that the inertial mass m of all elementary particles with energy content E, will be zero.
§ The sixth consequence that follows from e0 = 0 & m = 0 is that the force of attraction between opposite charge particles will be infinitely large while their inertial mass and momentum will be zero. As a major consequence of this situation, all opposite charges will mutually annihilate themselves and no atomic structure will be able to exist.
§ The seventh consequence that follows from 1/c=0, and the definition of interval 'd(s)' in four dimensional space-time continuum, is that the time elapsed 'd(t)' between any two events occurring in the space-time continuum will be zero. Hence as a major consequence of this situation, the very concept of time will cease to exist.
We may, therefore, summarize from the foregoing that the overall consequence of assumed zero value of the Permittivity (e0) & Permeability (m0) of 'vacuum' will be the virtual collapse of the observable Universe with no atoms, no electromagnetic waves, no photons and even no time existing any more. Further, a little more detailed analysis will show that even the elementary particles will not be able to exist in the so called 'vacuum' when e0=0 & m0=0.
A similar analysis for the assumed infinite values of the Permittivity (e0) & Permeability (m0) of 'vacuum', (with corresponding c = 0) will show that the observable Universe will again collapse with no atoms, no electromagnetic waves, no photons and even no energy existing any more in the so called 'vacuum'.
Therefore, we may logically conclude that the Permittivity and Permeability Constants of 'vacuum', with their present finite values, are extremely significant parameters of this entity called 'vacuum' and our observable Universe owes too much to these two little parameters for its very existence. Hence we must strive very hard to grasp and fully understand the inherent role of these two parameters in the evolution of our observable Universe.
Other Important Articles
§
Ether, Vacuum or the
Elastic Continuum
§ Permittivity and Permeability Constants of Vacuum
§ What Ails the Fundamental Research in Physics
§ Physical Theory and Mathematical Models
§ GTR is founded on a Conceptual Mistake
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