Makerspace Clock

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Revision as of 14:06, 9 January 2019 by Phil garrow (talk | contribs) (Makerspace clock with math and science constants replacing integers.)
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Makerspace Constants Clock

In the spirit of being more nerdy-than-thou, the idea for this makerspace clock is to have each of its twelve numbers replaced by either a mathematics or physics constant.

A Google search revealed many such clocks commercially available, but none followed all of these rules.

The criteria for number selection in order of importance was:

1) That the first non-zero integer value be the same as the digit on the clock it replaced.

2) That the constant be well known, but not trivial, i.e. an integer.

3) That the constant be useful in the context of a makerspace.

4) That the constant avoid calculation, i.e. the square-root of 2.

5) That the constant have a cool symbol, ideally Greek.

6) That the constants be arranged be arranged in a pleasing way.


φ = 1.61803398875 The Golden Ratio

e = 2.718281828 The Natural Logarithm

π = 3.141592654 Archimedes constant The ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter.

δ = 4.6692016091 Feigenbaum_constant I only know this because of a course I took covering fractals.

σ = 5.670367(13)×10^-8 W⋅m^−2⋅K^−4 Stefan Boltzman constant The relationship of temperature to radiated light.

h = 6.626070150(81)×10^-34 J·s Planck's constant A photon's energy is equal to its frequency multiplied by the Planck constant.

Alternate Na = 6.02214076 × 10^23 1/mol Avogadro's constant Although this is a definition, this constant might be more useful in a makerspace.

α = 0.0072973525664(17) = 7.2973525664(17)x10^3 Sommerfeld's constant The strength of the electromagnetic interaction between elementary charged particles.

R = 8.3144598(48) J⋅mol−1⋅K−1 Gas constant Relating gas energy to temperature.

ɡ = 9.80665 m/s2 Standard gravity Acceleration due to gravity on earth.

R∞ = 10.973731568508 m^-1x10^6 Rydberg constant

GF = 11.663787(6) x 10^-4 GeV^-2 Fermi coupling constant

ζ(3) = 1.20205690315x10^-1 Apéry's constant