8 October 2009 - specific impulse

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Rocket Scientists and Consumer Technology

Did you know that my ordinary watch can measure the fuel efficiency of a rocket? The efficiency of a rocket is called its specific impulse, I guess as opposed to the general impulse that leads us to build rockets in the first place. Anyway, specific impulse is measured in seconds. I just have to figure out which combination of tiny buttons to press....

clue:

But seriously, if it were possible to measure specific impulse with a watch, then it should be possible to measure a dimensionless value without any equipment whatsoever. Aristotle would have deduced the value of the fine structure constant.

take oh take this clue away

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