• TheLeadenSea@sh.itjust.works
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    1 day ago

    Time can be non arbitrarily defined as a round number value of times cesium oscillates between two hyperfine states, to allow time to be non arbitrary and still a useful size.

    • Zorcron@lemmy.zip
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      1 day ago

      The round number would still be arbitrary, no? It’s roundness would be based on the base 10 counting system, which is also arbitrary.

      • atomicorange@lemmy.world
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        24 hours ago

        Not arbitrary. Base 10 because we usually have 10 fingers and those are useful for learning counting. If you have to choose a base, 10 is a good option for humans.

    • KubeRoot@discuss.tchncs.de
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      24 hours ago

      That’s still an arbitrary number to pick, and the choice of cesium oscillation seems pretty arbitrary in the grand scheme of things.