Drift A Physical Degradation of Measurement Stability

This paper defines drift strictly as a physical phenomenon, independent of statistics, interpretation, or correction schemes. Using only established physics, drift is identified as the continuous, cumulative degradation of a measuring system’s structural restriction or scale coupling due to ongoing material and energetic processes. By grounding drift in thermodynamics, material aging, and low-level energy exchange, the paper distinguishes gradual decay from discrete error and clarifies drift as an objective property of physical systems over time.