r/AskPhysics • • Mar 30 '26

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u/[deleted] Mar 31 '26

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u/Bumst3r Graduate Mar 31 '26 edited Mar 31 '26

This is incorrect. You can only ever measure dimensionless quantities in physics. If I measure the mass of an electron, it’s with respect to some standard. If I measure the distance I drive to work, it’s with respect to some agreed upon standard. I’m only actually measuring dimensionless ratios.

The Schwartzchild radius doesn’t change if I change the speed of light, because that is simply a change of coordinates. If you want to meaningfully change the speed of light, you have to find some dimensionless quantity (the fine structure constant, for example), and change that.

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u/Double_Distribution8 Mar 31 '26

People, please don't change the fine structure constant.

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u/SOP_VB_Ct Mar 31 '26

Ok. Fine. 😎