DOC.
56
373
From
this
we
conclude that,
except
for dimensionless
numerical factors
that
appear
in
theoretical
developments
and
of
course
cannot
be
determined
by
dimensional
considerations, the coefficients
e2/c4
and
Re2/Nc
appearing
in the
[64]
equation
for
p
must be numerically equal
to
the coefficients
appearing
in
the Planck
(or
Wien)
radiation formula. Since the
above
nondeterminable
dimensionless
numerical factors
are
hardly
likely
to
essentially
change
the
order of
magnitude,
we can
put,
as
far
as
the order of
magnitude1
is
concerned
h
=
e2 h
_
R
e2
~c3
=
~c4
and.
k
,
[65]
hence
h
=
and
k
=
R c
N
.
It is the
second
of these
equation which has been used
by
Mr.
Planck
to
determine the
elementary quanta
of matter
or
electricity.
Concerning
the
[66]
expression
for
h,
it
should
be
noted that
h
=
6.10-27
and
e2
=
7.10-30
.
c
This
is three decimal
places
off
the mark.
But
this
may
be
due
to
the
fact
[67]
that the dimensionless factors
are
not known.
The most important aspect
of
this derivation is that
it
relates the
light
quantum
constant
h
to
the
elementary
quantum
e
of
electricity.
We
should
remember
that the
elementary
quantum
e
is
an
outsider in
Maxwell-
Lorentz
electrodynamics2.
Outside forces
must
be
enlisted in order
to
con-
struct
the electron in the
theory;
usually,
one
introduces
a
rigid
framework [69]
1The
Planck formula reads
8ihv3
1
p
-
hv
ekT-
2Cf.
Levi-Civita.
"Sur
le
mouvement
etc."
[On
the
motion,
etc.],
Comptes
Rendus
(1907).
[68]