Fine Tuning Flashcards
What are the five Cosmic Constants relating to fine tuning?
- Gravitational Force Constant
- Electromagnetic Force Constant
- Strong Nuclear Force Constant
- Weak Nuclear Force Constant
- Cosmological Constant
How does the Gravitational Force Constant relate to fine tuning?
(Large scale attractive force, holds people
on planets, and holds planets, stars, and galaxies together)— Too weak,
and planets and stars cannot form; too strong, and stars burn up too
quickly.
How does the Electromagnetic Force Constant relate to fine tuning?
(Small scale attractive and repulsive
force, holds atoms electrons and atomic nuclei together) — If it were
much stronger or weaker, we wouldn’t have stable chemical bonds.
How does the Strong Nuclear Force Constant relate to fine tuning?
(Small-scale attractive force, holds
nuclei of atoms together, which otherwise repulse each other because
of the electromagnetic force.) — If it were weaker, the universe would
have far fewer stable chemical elements, eliminating several that are
essential to life.
How does the Weak Nuclear Force Constant relate to fine tuning?
(Governs radioactive decay) — If it were
much stronger or weaker, life-essential stars could not form.
How does the Cosmological Constant relate to fine tuning?
(Which controls the expansion speed of the
universe) Refers to the balance of the attractive force of gravity with a
hypothesized repulsive force of space observable only at very large size
scales. It must be very close to zero, that is, these two forces must be
nearly perfectly balanced. To get the right balance, the cosmological
constant must be fine-tuned to something like 1 part in 10^120. If it
were just slightly more positive, the universe would fly apart; slightly
negative, and the universe would collapse.
What are the Fine Tuning Inital Conditions and Brute Facts refering to?
- Initial Conditions
- Ratio of Masses for Portons and Electrons
- Velocity of Light
- Mass Excess of Neutron over Proton
How do Initial Conditions relate to fine tuning?
Besides physical constants, there are initial or
boundary conditions, which describe the conditions present at the
beginning of the universe. Initial conditions are independent of the
physical constants. One way of summarizing the initial conditions is to
speak of the extremely low entropy (that is, a highly ordered) initial
state of the universe. This refers to the initial distribution of mass
energy. In The Road to Reality, physicist Roger Penrose estimates that the
odds of the initial low entropy state of our universe occurring by
chance alone are on the order of 1 in 10 10^(123). This ratio is vastly
beyond our powers of comprehension. Since we know a life-bearing
universe is intrinsically interesting, this ratio should be more than
enough to raise the question: Why does such a universe exist? If
someone is unmoved by this ratio, then they probably won’t be
persuaded by additional examples of fine-tuning.
How does the ratio of masses for protons and electrons relate to Fine Tuning?
If it were slightly different, building blocks for life such as DNA could not be formed.
How does the Velocity of Light relate to Fine Tuning?
If it were larger, stars would be too luminous. If it were smaller, stars would not be luminous enough.
How does the mass excess of neutrons over protons relate to fine tuning?
If it were greater, there would
be too few heavy elements for life. If it were smaller, stars would quickly collapse as neutron stars or black holes.
What are the Local Planetary Conditions of fine turning?
- Steady Plate Tectonics
- Crustal Water Content
- Large Moon With Right Planetary Rotation Period
- Proper Concentration Of Sulfur
- Right Planetary Mass
- Near Inner Edge of Circumstellar Habital Zone
- Low-Eccentricity Orbit Outside Spin-Orbit and Giant Planet Resonances
- Large Jupiter-Mass Planetary Neighbors In Large Circular Orbits
- Outside Spiral Arm Galaxy
- Near Co-Rotation Circle of Galaxy In A Circular Orbit Around The Galactic Center
- Within The Galactic Habitable Zone
- During The Cosmic Habitable Age
- Polarity Of Water Molecules
What do steady plate tectonics with the right kind of geological interior have to do with fine tuning?
(Which allows the carbon cycle and generates a protective magnetic
field). If the Earth’s crust were significantly thicker, plate tectonic
recycling could not take place.
What does the right amount of water in the crust have to do with fine tuning?
It provides the universal
solvent for life.
What does a large moon with the right planetary rotation period have to do with fine tuning?
It stabilizes the tilt of the planet and it contributes to tidal effects. In the case of the Earth, the gravitational pull of its moon stabilizes the angle of its axis at a nearly
constant 23.5 degrees. This ensures relatively temperate seasonal changes, and the only climate in the solar system mild enough to sustain complex living organisms.
