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On the Mathematical Structure of Physical Quantities

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Thermal Physics and Thermal Analysis

Part of the book series: Hot Topics in Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry ((HTTC,volume 11))

Abstract

The choice of the mathematical structure of physical quantities, which is natural for the description of finite physical reality and related problems, is discussed from the historical and the epistemological points of view. We show that for the establishment of physical quantities is fully sufficient the system of rational numbers which are equivalent to the finite ordered sets of integers, while the currently used system of real numbers is quite redundant for such a purpose. These facts may have far reaching consequences not only for pure epistemology but for the interpretation of many fundamental physical phenomena as well. Finally, the relation between the chosen structure of physical quantities and the so-called Principle of conformity of physics and mathematics is shortly discussed.

The infinity is a square without corners (Chinese proverb).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Solid-State Physics, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic

    Jiří J. Mareš & Václav Špička

  2. Division of Solid-State Physics, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic

    Pavel Hubík

Authors
  1. Jiří J. Mareš
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  2. Pavel Hubík
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  3. Václav Špička
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Correspondence to Jiří J. Mareš .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. New Technologies (NTC-ZČU) Research Centre of the Westbohemian Region, University of West Bohemia, Plzeň, Czech Republic

    Jaroslav Šesták

  2. Division of Solid-State Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physics, Praha , Czech Republic

    Pavel Hubík

  3. Division of Solid-State Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physics, Praha, Czech Republic

    Jiří J. Mareš

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Mareš, J.J., Hubík, P., Špička, V. (2017). On the Mathematical Structure of Physical Quantities. In: Šesták, J., Hubík, P., Mareš, J. (eds) Thermal Physics and Thermal Analysis. Hot Topics in Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, vol 11. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45899-1_24

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