Makerspace Clock

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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 Used in the calculation of 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 fine structure constant used to calculate 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.

Λ = 10.986858055x10^-1 Lengyel's constant Regarding set partitions.

Alternate R∞ = 10.973731568508 m^-1x10^6 Rydberg constant Relating to atomic spectroscopy.

GF = 11.663787(6)x10^-4 GeV^-2 Fermi coupling constant Used in calculating beta decay.

ζ(3) = 12.0205690315x10^-1 Apéry's constant Used in the analysis of random minimum spanning trees.