From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!floyd!vax135!ariel!hou5f!hou5b!hou5c!hou5e!mat
Newsgroups: net.physics
Title: Re: Speed of Light Question?
Article-I.D.: hou5e.433
Posted: Fri Apr 29 13:14:48 1983
Received: Sat Apr 30 04:17:14 1983
References: inuxc.652

Well, if the speed of light were increased, then a lot of things related
to electromagnetism would have to change also.  Thie first example that
comes to mind is this little relationship:


                    ____1____
           c =    ________________
                v/   u   *    e
                      0        0

where e is an epsilon, and u is a mu.

In other words, the inverse of
                               the square root of
                                                  the product of
the permeability and permittivity of
                                     free space
                                                 equals the speed of light
( actually electromagnetic propagation )
                                         in free space.

Since the permeability and permittitivity of free space influence directly
bulk inductance and capacitance fo free space, and since materials tend
to track the free-space values within a few orders of magnitude, we might
have to build a lot of our machines differently.
  In addition, since

         c = f * (lambda)

where lambda is wavelength and f is frequency, we would find a lot of our
optical systems fouled up.  (This is not unrelated to the permeability/
permittivity question).  Now we have screwed up the photo-electric effect,
and we will have to tinker with Plank's constant to make it all work
again.  After that, I believe, we might have to revise Boltzman's constant
to meke (statistical) chemistry work out again.  From there, it is a
short step to the Reynold's number for the various types of flow,
and I can eventually see a devaluation of the dollar, the franc, and the
pound against the ruble.  No, we had better leave ``c'' alone.


Seen in a men's room:

and God said:
                  ________________________
                 /                        \
                /      Insert Maxwell's    \
               / equations in differential  \
               |  form here, along with the |
               \ required continutity eq-  /
                \  uations in the matching/
                 \   form.               /
                  \_____________________/

AND THERE WAS LIGHT

						Mark Terribile
						Duke of DeNet
						-!hou5e!mat