large number hypothesis


large number hypothesis

[′lärj ‚nəm·bər hī′päth·ə·səs] (physics) The hypothesis that there is a physical basis for the approximate equality of two numbers on the order of 1040: the ratio of the electrostatic to the gravitational force between a proton and an electron in a hydrogen atom, and the ratio of the age of the universe to the time required for light to cross an elementary particle diameter.