1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 567: Programmed Universe! Planck Length! Planck Time! Space-Time Limits? Wrong Wrong Wrong!

In later times, there is a non-academic but chilling theory about the origin of the universe.

That is the "Programmed Universe".

What does that mean?

This theory holds that the universe we live in was actually designed by programmers from a god-level civilization.

The so-called physical laws are just program rules compiled by others.

For example, why can't the speed of light be infinite?

The reason is to prevent system calculation overflow. Places where the speed of light cannot be reached cannot actually be loaded.

It’s like humans playing a game called “The Hunger Game”, where the content in the black area on the screen will only appear when you walk into that area.

The speed of light constant is designed to save system resources.

It can be said that this explanation is very logical, which is why it seems incredible.

In addition, the most core concept of the procedural universe is the so-called "space-time frame rate".

We should know that there are two very critical parameters on the computer display.

One is the size in pixels, the other is the frame rate of the animation.

Pixels are the smallest units that make up the picture. The smaller they are, the more detailed the picture is, and the more "real" the characters in the game look.

The frame rate refers to the smoothness of the animation playback. The faster it is, the more continuous the picture looks, and there will be no feeling of stacked photos.

Therefore, if you want to play a good game, your computer hardware must first have excellent performance.

Otherwise, when the game is running, the characters and environment will look fake and have no aesthetic appeal.

Supporters of the programmed universe believe that our universe's space-time has parameters similar to the precision of a computer display.

That is the Planck length and Planck time that countless people talk about.

In the view of supporters, Planck length is the smallest pixel of cosmic space, and Planck time is the frame rate of cosmic time.

Why do you think so?
Because the values ​​of these two parameters are too small.

普朗克长度的值是1.6×10^-35m，普朗克时间的值是5.4×10^-44s。

These two numbers are so small that they are beyond human perception.

Take the Planck length as an example.

The diameter of an atom is only about 1×10^-10m.

But compared to the Planck length, atoms can be called "supergalactic-level" behemoths.

So, if the Planck length were a pixel, it could form an image of everything in the universe.

Therefore, it is natural and easy for everyone to think that the formation of the universe may be similar to programming.

Our universe itself is computer hardware, and the Planck length and Planck time are the performance values ​​of this hardware.

The physical theories such as the speed of light, relativity, and quantum mechanics are the programs designed by programmers on the hardware of the universe.

The movement of galaxies, the burning of stars, and human civilization are all just a game created by a god-level civilization.

Perhaps outside the universe, there is a pair of huge eyes watching all this.

"Shit, why did my character die again?"

"Do it again! Do it again!"

This is the concept of a programmed universe.

Fantastic! Extremely shocking!
Especially the explanation about the speed of light is really refreshing and gives me goosebumps.

But unfortunately, this theory has a huge flaw.

Although the theory itself is a cosmic imagination, it cannot be directly falsified or proved.

However, its understanding of the concepts of Planck length and Planck time is wrong.

This mistake is also a concept formed by many people under the brainwashing of marketing accounts.

These misconceptions include but are not limited to:
"Planck length is the smallest unit of space. Space is not continuous, but is made up of pixels like a computer screen."

"Planck time is the smallest unit of time, and time is also discontinuous."

"Below the Planck length and Planck time scale, physics ceases to exist."

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Without exception, all of these views are wrong and are indisputably wrong.

The reason why people have these wrong ideas is that they don't understand the ins and outs of the Planck length.

At first glance, this term sounds very cool, and people tend to think it is very awesome.

In fact, the so-called "Planck××" is not something mysterious or high-sounding, and there is no need to look at them with filters.

For example, in addition to Planck length and Planck time, there are Planck mass, Planck temperature, Planck voltage, and Planck current.
Are you confused and disappointed? The awesome Planck length actually has so many twin brothers and sisters.

The level of prestige was instantly lowered.

In real history, the concept of Planck length was proposed by Planck.

He gave a total of three Planck units.

They are: Planck length, Planck time, and Planck mass.

Interestingly, when Planck proposed these concepts, general relativity and quantum mechanics had not yet been born.

At this point, you, as a smart person, must be curious:

"So how did Planck derive the values ​​of these three Planck units?"

The answer may disappoint you again.

Put it together!

Yes, you read it right. The famous Planck length was actually made up by Planck himself.

There are no complicated calculations or strict logic.

this.
It's indeed a bit unbelievable.

So, how are Planck length, Planck time, and Planck mass calculated?
At that time, Planck proposed the concept of quantum and calculated the value of Planck's constant through theory and experiment.

That is: h=6.6×10^-34 (J·s).

There are currently three special constants in physics.

They are:
The gravitational constant G = 6.7 × 10^-11 (m/kg·s);
The speed of light c = 3 × 10^8 (m/s);
Planck's constant h=6.6×10^-34 (J·s).

In 1971, the International Conference on Metrology determined the seven basic physical quantities in the field of physics and their unit names and abbreviations:
Length (meters – m);
Time (seconds - s);
Mass (kilograms – kg);
Temperature (Kelvin - K);
Current (Ampere – A);
Light intensity (candela-cd);
Amount of substance (mole - mol).

With these seven physical quantities, we can derive all the remaining physical quantities.

That is why they are called fundamental physical quantities.

But physical quantities alone are not enough.

You also need to know what the value of a unit is.

For example, in terms of mass, how heavy is 1kg?

At that time, the mass of the prototype kilogram (a very, very smooth metal ball, whose mass was specified to be 1 kg) was used as the standard.

In Planck's time, there were no such detailed divisions.

However, the specific values ​​of physical quantities and units are also a problem.

One day, Planck had a sudden idea:
“Can we create a new set of unit standards for physical quantities based on the three constants G, c, and h?”

He chose the three most common basic physical quantities: length, time, and mass.

The calculation method is very simple, that is through dimensional analysis and balancing.

Because the units of the three constants G, c, and h include units such as m, s, and kg.

By using appropriate unit conversions, you can eliminate all unnecessary units.

For example, the unit of length is m.

Then the unit of Planck length Lp must also be m.

At this time, we can assume that Lp=h^αG^βc^γ.

As long as we find the right parameters, we can convert the units to only m.

通过求量纲方程可得：α=1/2，β=1/2，γ=-3/2。

Finally, we can get the Planck length Lp = √G/c. (=h/2π; √ represents the square root) Through certain operations, we can convert the result of these three constants into the length m.

This is where the Planck length comes from.

Substituting the value of the constant into the equation, we can calculate that Lp=1.6×10^-35m.

Planck's idea was to use this value as the basic unit of length.

(The specific process is shown in the figure)
根据这个原理，同理可得普朗克时间Tp=5.4×10^-44s，普朗克质量Mp=2.2×10^-8kg。

The above is the origin of the so-called Planck unit.

By now, everyone should be able to see that the Planck unit is not the so-called "smallest indivisible unit."

For example, Planck mass, although also very small, is still many times larger than electrons, protons, etc.

This shows that Planck mass is not the smallest unit of mass.

Therefore, Planck length and Planck time are not the smallest units of space and time.

At this time, some people must be curious:
"So what do these three Planck units mean?"

“Why do many marketing accounts I read say that physics does not exist at this scale?”

The answer is full of drama.

As mentioned before, when Planck proposed these three Planck units, general relativity and quantum mechanics had not yet appeared.

Therefore, these three new basic units have no practical meaning and can be seen as a mathematical game.

To put it in a more vivid way, physicists used to agree to define the mass of a watermelon as "standard 1kg".

As a result, Planck now insisted on defining the mass of a grape as "standard 1kg".

What's the point of this, you say?

People are still accustomed to using common length and time standards, and would not choose the strange and extremely small standards invented by Planck.

but!

When general relativity and quantum mechanics came into being, everything was different!
Physicists suddenly discovered that the value of the Planck unit actually contains very profound physical meaning.

It is the scale at which both general relativity and quantum mechanics fail!
To put it in a more vivid way, both general relativity and quantum mechanics can describe objects the size of watermelons, but cannot describe objects the size of grapes.

This is very interesting!

And this is what Li Qiwei is going to talk about next.

At this moment, when he asked the question "Is there a smallest scale in space?", everyone was shocked.

The first reaction of the crowd was:

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"Space is continuous, so how can there be a smallest scale?"

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Ridgway changed the original history of physics, so in this life, Planck did not propose concepts such as Planck length.

Therefore, the people present would not think of such a small scale at first.

It's understandable to be surprised.

Lang Zhiwan and other bigwigs frowned slightly.

This is indeed a good question.

But they absolutely do not believe that space and time can be discontinuous and discrete.

Since the concept of quantum was proposed and quantum mechanics was established, the concept of discontinuity has completely subverted physics.

Matter has a smallest unit, and energy also has a smallest unit.

But so far, there is no theory or evidence to show that there is a smallest unit of space and time!
The physics community assumes that space and time are definitely continuous.

However, they did not question it immediately, but continued to think about it.

Geniuses such as Oppenheimer and Wang Dezhao opened their eyes wide.

They couldn't understand why Professor Bruce asked this question.

From the birth of physics to the present, there has never been any theory that describes the limits of space and time.

Even the general theory of relativity, a theory that specifically describes space and time, does not mention that space and time has a minimum scale.

Wang Dezhao murmured to himself:
"Could it be that space and time are discontinuous?"

“This is a bit too unbelievable.”

"And does the smallest scale refer to the smallest unit of energy like a photon?"

According to quantum mechanics, the energy of a photon is divided into pieces, E=hv, and cannot be divided any further.

So if space and time also have a smallest unit, it must also be a specific number.

For example, so many meters, so many seconds.

"It's just that this is a bit too exaggerated."

"Our space-time is made up of tiny space-time units?"

For a moment, no one knew how to answer this question.

At this moment, a brave student suddenly shouted:

"Professor Bruce, I don't think there is a smallest size."

“Space should be continuous.”

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at the other person and saw that he was an ordinary student.

Oppenheimer looked serious, he felt that the other party must be wrong.

The answer is definitely not simple.

However, Li Qiwei's answer made everyone drop their jaws.

He smiled slightly and said:

"Yes, you are very honest."

"I share your opinion."

"I also believe that space is continuous and there is no so-called smallest scale."

Wow!
The audience was in an uproar!
Everyone was stunned.

what's going on?
Professor Bruce, is he treating us like dogs?

"Oh! I didn't expect Professor Bruce to have such a bad taste and actually want to cheat us!"

"Space must be continuous, otherwise what are the gaps between spaces? Won't air leak in?"

Everyone laughed.

However, Lang Zhiwan and others knew very well that Professor Bruce could not be so bored.

Sure enough, soon after, they heard the voice coming from the stage.

Li Qiwei continued to smile and said:

“I want to use Zeno’s tortoise to make everyone think about a question.”

"Since there is a concept of space limit in mathematics, and calculus has been developed."

“So are there any limits to physical theories?”

"In other words, is there a limit to the scale to which our current theory of relativity and quantum mechanics can be applied?"

"Suppose that when the scale is small enough, will these two theories fail?"

"If so, it means that at this scale, our [existing] physics is powerless."

"For humans, all physical behavior at this scale is mysterious and unobservable."

"Because our theory has reached its limits."

"And this is the true meaning of Zeno's turtle!"

"So, do you think there is such an extreme scale?"

Wow!
The whole audience was shocked!

(End of this chapter)