Mathematica 3.0 Palette for Physics SI Fundamental Constants
- To: mathgroup@smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg12311] Mathematica 3.0 Palette for Physics SI Fundamental Constants
- From: silver1@inreach.com (Silver Jones)
- Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 18:51:53 -0400
- Organization: InReach Internet
I have been constructing a custom palette which has about 100 fundamental constants for physics. What I thought would be a 2 or 3 hour task has turned out to be a much larger project. I wanted to set up the symbols for the constants to be as close to actual mathematical/physics expression as possible. The purpose of the palette is to allow you to enter c for instance for the speed of light with appropriate units. example c = 2.997925010*10 E8 m/s You would enter c from the palette. When the expression was evaluated in a formula the numerical value would be used with appropriate unit extensions. The solutions would have numerical output with appropriate unit extensions. I have encountered a the following problems: 1. I immediatly ran into the problem of protected symbols. I had to find symbols which were as close to the correct symbols as possible instead of the actual symbol which was often protected, or had already been assigned in my own constants and therefore could not be assigned again. This prevented pure mathematical representation. 2. I created a notebook and assigned all the symbols their numerical values - example - c = 2.997925010 E8 m/s. 3. I then created a palette and placed all the symbols for each evaluated inputs on the palette. The palette worked perfectly until I saved it. After saving it, the palette worked to place the symbols in any new notebook, but no longer kept the assignment values from the original notebook it had been constructed in. Have I missed some special way that the palette must be saved? Or was the addition of palettes in 3.0 never intended for this purpose? I have tried evaluating the palette after I open it, but this does not provide the assigned values. If there is no way to save the palette that will also save the assigned values, I would apprecaite being informed of this. If there is no option to save it that will work as a stand alone palette, the only option I can think of is to keep the palette within the notebook that has the assigned values. Is this the only option avialable that will work? If anyone else has attmepted this and can provide some input, it would be very appreciated. I debated about trying to get the symbols closer to actual mathematical/physics representation by unprotecting symbols I wanted to use, but I considered it a real trade off with regard to the extra input needed and the possibilities of conflicts with Mathematica built in protected symbols. If anyone attempted a palette utilizing unprotected "protected symbols", I would like to know how this worked out. If one could acheive exact mathematical notation, it would certainly be and advantage. The representations I have managed to come up with are close enough so as not to provide confusion, but would not be close enough for formal publications. As an example I was unable to use h/e. I had to use h\e because / is protected. I anyone knows of a web site that publishes the most current experimental values for the fundamental constants I would also appreciate hearing about this. Comments can be addressed to the group, or via email. email - silver1@inreach.com Thank you, Silver Jones