Talk:Thaum

Thanks for removing the "pipes". I didn't know they were case insensitive.

Is the thaum also basic particle of magic?

If the thaum is just a unit of measure, how can it be "made up" of anything (like resons). That's like saying a meter is made up of smaller particles. Maybe the thaum is both a unit of measure AND the fundamental particle of magic (like an atom or proton would be in Roundworld?). The reson thing sounds a lot like "protons are made up of quarks" (which also have flavors). Kellyterryjones 22:03, 10 September 2007 (CEST)

To get all technical here, and to run the risk of running out of my very basic knowledge, isn't the analogy that of the way we define radio broadcast bands? On analogue radio, for a long, long, time, BBC Radio Two described itself as broadcasting on 1500 metres Long Wave, and Radio One's jingles all highlighted 247 metres Medium Wave - ie, the radio station call signs were based on a measurement, ie that of its broadcast wavelength measured either trough-to-trough or peak-to-peak.

Then all of a sudden it changed and today, BBC Radio Two broadcasts jingles proudly announcing to the world (or at least North-west Europe) Eighty-eight to Ninety-one FM - which is equally valid, but which is no longer a measurement of wavelength, but an expression of the cyclic frequency of the radio-waves.

By analogy, surely the Thaum and the prime are measuring different aspects of the same phenomena - ie, the raw magic saturating the Disc? --AgProv 10:39, 1 August 2007 (CEST)

Just to add to the confusion: in The Colour of Magic, Rincewind notices a "stable magic aura of [...] several milliPrime", indicating a field strength. Field strength is usually measured per units of area or volume. Maybe 1 prime = 1 thaum per cubic meter or something like that? Kellyterryjones 22:03, 10 September 2007 (CEST)

Citation

Where and when are Thaums first mentioned? I know I remember them from somewhere, but a recent reread of Book 1 turned up nothing. --JDspeeder1 (talk) 22:44, 5 June 2017 (UTC)