The Summer Hill Journal Of New Physics

Methods of Proof

Which version of zero does nature use?

Over the centuries, mathematicians and philosophers have "proved" that:

"1/0 = Infinity"

"00 = 1"

"Infinity * 0 = 1"

All of which are based on self-referential systems of proof.
It may well turn out that the only truly infinite thing in the entire Universe is the number of opinions.

Let us look for proof in physics, not philosophy. Physics is where our assumptions meet the Universe and is an area that has long been troubled by infinities and other problems which can come about from the way we view zero. Many of the monsters that keep physicists awake at night come simply and solely, from using the wrong interpretation of zero, particularly in using an ordinal interpretation for a null quantity.

It is not the purpose of this article to catalogue all the infinities and zeros in all theories. However, we have shown that they can be categorised and we have cited here four examples where a difference is the treatment of the humble zero is noticeable and remarkable:

• Planck's Constant versus Planck's Variable
• Zero and The Lorentz Factor in Special Relativity
• Predictions for Field Theories
• No Infinite Density in Black Holes or in the Big Bang

Each of these differences arises purely from the way we view zero.
This is a thought experiment that anyone can try at home for themselves.

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