Re: [boost] Numeric constants

Subject: Re: [boost] Numeric constants
From: John Phillips (phillips_at_[hidden])
Date: 2009-01-31 00:30:44

Max wrote:
>> I was wondering what kind of constants this would include. Physical
>> constants, or just mathematical ones? And what about constants with
>> multiple expressions depending on units? For example, H_bar =
>> 6.626e-34 J-s = 4.135e-15 eV-s.
> 
> IMO, We should definitely use SI.
> 
> B/Rgds
> Max
> 

   What units to use is strictly a function of what you are simulating. 
I'm a big fan of SI units in education and many problems, but in some 
settings they are not a good choice. (Consider a particle physics 
program, as an example.) In physical calculations, you should always 
choose your units based on what calculations you are doing, not on some 
rigid belief in what system people "should" use.

   This has some flexibility based on what units users of the program 
will expect to see, but none based on pure dogma.

                        John