Spencer Heath Archive

Item 74

Fragment penciled by Heath on notepad paper.

No date

     In each of the above examples the number of dyne-centimeter-seconds remains the same, namely, one erg-second; only the ratios between dynes and centimeters are changed.

     Since c is the highest possible velocity, then l/c is the least possible division of the dyne as in (1) or, alternatively, l/c is likewise the least possible division of the centimeter as in (2) or, conversely, since l/c is the least magnitude of either dyne or centimeter, then c must be the maximum velocity. It follows also that any two whole (?) numbers whose product is c may be used for dividing into either

*Note:   An erg, dyne-centimeter has no definite meaning apart from time. It cannot without reference to time be a definite event, hence cannot come into objective experience. The erg-second, therefore and not the erg must be taken for practical purposes in the C. G. S. System as the unit of energy or action. The dyne or dynes in order to move must move at some uniform or mean velocity. In the diagram set out below there is no place for energy without velocity.