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From: stekas@hou2g.UUCP (J.STEKAS)
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Re: Help - Extra Dimensions
Message-ID: <245@hou2g.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 27-Apr-84 13:12:52 EST
Article-I.D.: hou2g.245
Posted: Fri Apr 27 13:12:52 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Apr-84 09:38:08 EST
References: <2374@ecsvax.UUCP>, <129@oddjob.UChicago.UUCP>, <1007@brl-vgr.ARPA>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 13

>>                                                  There is something
>>upsetting in the idea of postulating higher dimensionality without being
>>forced to..

This reminded me of the calculation of the fine structure constant from
"first principles".  If one takes the ratio of the volume of the unit
5-sphere to the volume of the unit 7-sphere the result is the fine
structure constant (~1/137) to 5 or 6 places.  (First order?!)

Of course, 5 and 7-spheres are picked just because they work and not
for any other reason, but the result is interesting - well amusing anyway.

                                                Jim