User talk:Kehrli/alpha

Alpha
Nice writeup. It has a critical flaw, however. If you alter the units of e, alpha is no longer dimensionless, now is it? Its $$\mathrm{\frac{Mi^2}{c^2}}$$ rather than a dimensionless number now that you've altered its units. A dimensionless number is often constructed such that its dimensions cancel out in a sense. If they no longer cancel out, its no longer a dimensionless number. Ironically, the dimensionless number doesn't depend on units, itself, because its no longer a dimensionless number if you mess with units used to calculate it. Its like saying an idiot doesn't depend on intellegence, because said person isn't an idiot once you add intellegence into the mix. Kevin_b_er 22:24, 1 October 2006 (UTC)