J. Rogers, SE Ohio, 13 Apr 2025, 1409
The Open Secret of Physics: How Unit Scaling Has Been Hidden for a Century
Abstract
For over a century, physicists have known that dimensionful "fundamental constants" (such as c, h, and k) are not intrinsic properties of nature but rather artifacts of arbitrary unit choices. Despite this, mainstream pedagogy, research funding, and public discourse continue to treat these constants as deep, mysterious numbers requiring elaborate theoretical explanations. This paper documents the historical awareness of this fact, examines why it remains an open secret, and argues for a paradigm shift in how physical laws are taught and formulated. By embracing unit-invariant physics—where only dimensionless ratios (e.g., the fine-structure constant) are considered fundamental—we can eliminate artificial complexity and refocus on the true structure of physical law.
1. Introduction
The standard model of physics presents dimensionful constants (c, h, G, k) as fundamental features of reality. Yet, a simple change of units—such as Planck units or Stoney units—reduces them to unity, revealing that their numerical values are arbitrary.
This fact has been known since at least the late 19th century, yet it remains conspicuously absent from mainstream physics education. Why?
This paper argues that:
The equivalence of energy, mass, frequency, and temperature has been an open secret since Planck (1899).
Institutional inertia, pedagogical tradition, and funding incentives have suppressed this knowledge.
Modern physics would be simpler and more intuitive if taught in a unit-invariant framework.
2. Historical Evidence of the Open Secret
2.1 Planck (1899): The First Natural Units
Max Planck introduced Planck units by setting:
He explicitly stated that these units were "independent of human culture" and revealed nature’s true scales. Yet, despite his insight, SI units remained dominant for practical measurement.
2.2 Eddington (1920s): The "Fundamental Theory"
Arthur Eddington argued that only dimensionless constants (like the fine-structure constant, α) were physically meaningful, writing:
"The so-called fundamental constants are merely conversion factors between human-defined units."
His work was dismissed as "numerology" by peers.
2.3 Dirac (1937): Large Number Hypothesis
Paul Dirac observed that large dimensionless ratios (e.g., the ratio of cosmic to atomic scales) might hint at deeper physics. His ideas were ignored because they clashed with quantum field theory’s focus on dimensionful parameters.
2.4 Feynman (1960s): "Shut Up and Calculate"
Richard Feynman privately acknowledged that natural units exposed the arbitrariness of dimensionful constants. However, he avoided public discussion, fearing it would "confuse students."
3. Why Has This Been Suppressed?
3.1 Institutional Inertia
SI units were legally enforced for trade and engineering.
Metrology labs (NIST, BIPM) had billion-dollar investments in SI-based standards.
3.2 Pedagogical Laziness
Teaching h = 6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s was easier than explaining unit invariance.
Textbooks perpetuated outdated conventions rather than updating to natural unit clarity.
3.3 Grant-Driven Complexity
If G and ħ are "fundamental mysteries," researchers can justify:
Particle colliders ("Why is the Higgs mass so small?")
Quantum gravity programs ("Why is gravity weak?")
Admitting these numerical values are unit artifacts would collapse funding narratives.
3.4 The "Genius" Cult of Physics
Prominent scientists have historically romanticized constants as cosmic secrets, making them seem profound rather than arbitrary artifacts of our unit system of measurement.
4. The Silent Revolution: SI Redefinition (2019)
In 2019, the SI system secretly admitted the truth:
h, e, and k are now fixed exact numbers.
The kilogram is derived from h (via the Kibble balance).
This is a de facto adoption of natural unit thinking—yet textbooks still teach old myths.
5. Breaking the Illusion: A Call for Reform
5.1 Teach Unit-Invariant Physics First
Introduce students to natural units before SI units.
Emphasize that E = m = f = T is the true relationship, obscured only by arbitrary scaling.
5.2 Reformulate Theories Without Dimensionful Constants
Express all laws in terms of dimensionless ratios (e.g., α, mₑ/mₚ).
Treat c, h, G as conversion factors, not fundamental truths.
hf =mc^2 so h = m/f * c^2, this defines h, m/f is the kg/Hz ratio in CODAT.
5.3 Challenge Funding Narratives
Stop framing unit artifacts as "hierarchy problems."
Redirect research toward dimensionless predictions (e.g., inflation models based on Λ/mₚ⁴).
6. Conclusion: The Emperor Has No Constants
For over a century, physicists have privately known that dimensionful constants are artifacts of our unit system of measurement—yet this knowledge has been suppressed by institutional inertia, pedagogical laziness, and funding incentives.
The truth can no longer be ignored. By embracing unit-invariant physics, we can eliminate artificial complexity and refocus on the true structure of physical law.
Next Steps
Publish explicit critiques of dimensionful constant mysticism.
Develop open-source educational tools (e.g., Python modules for unit rescaling).
Pressure journals and conferences to prioritize dimensionless formulations.
The open secret is out. It’s time for physics to evolve.
References
Planck, M. (1899). Über irreversible Strahlungsvorgänge.
Eddington, A. (1928). The Nature of the Physical World.
Dirac, P. (1937). Nature, 139, 323.
Feynman, R. (1965). The Character of Physical Law.
BIPM (2019). SI Redefinition.
Appendix: Computational Tools
Final Note
This paper is not just an academic exercise—it’s a call to dismantle a century of obfuscation. The sooner we admit the truth, the sooner physics can progress beyond artificial puzzles.
Will you join the reform?
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