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String Theory
What do you guys know about string theory?
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Re: String Theory
Well, the details really don't matter if you don't have some background. String theory is an outgrowth of the long quest in physics to unify the forces of nature (and as you should know, there are four of them). Unifying forces means to write down a single model that describes two or more forces, thus showing that forces which we thought were different from one another are actually parts of a single, unified force. For example, the force of Electromagnetism and the Weak Force are unified in Electroweak Theory, which was written down in the 1960s (I think). So the deal is that we can unify three of the forces : E.M., Weak, and Strong Forces. But unifying Gravitaion in to this structure is difficult. String theory is an attempt to do that. So far, we don't have enough of the theory to make any experimental tests.
For more, I suggest "The Universe in a Nutshell" By Hawking and "The Elegant Universe" By B. Greene My math prof. last semester specialized in Topology, so now he's a string theorist. He'd drop comments and such in class all the time, but I've not quite progressed to unified field theories yet... |
Re: String Theory
I know that its about how tiny little string are what compose the world.
I also know that it tries to combine Modern Physics of big objects and physics on a molecular scale. It also requires many many dimensions in order to work. And if you actually look at it, it is really a bunch of garbage. |
Re: String Theory
Try checking your library or movie store to see if they have PBS's The Elegant Universe. It's hosted by Brian Greene who wrote the book and it's really very interesting and has probably just the right amount of detail that one could still comprehend. I've watched it twice already, I highly recommend it.
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http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/ Quote:
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String theory is where the lines of physics become blurred. The real debate is whether it can actually be called a "Theory," because we have no way of testing whether it is true. When you can't construct an experiment that would falisify once and for all your theory, it isn't science, or so goes the thinking of Karl Popper. I really wouldn't worry about it, as it isn't likely to play into an engineer's life to often, but if theoretical physics is your game, this is where its at. My physics teacher maintains that "string theorists" are really nothing more than philosophers, which, if you want to be pedantic about it, is true.
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Re: String Theory
You can actually watch all three hours of Nova's presentation of B. Green's "Elegant Universe" online at:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/program_t.html I added it to my bookmarks. :rolleyes: :p |
Re: String Theory
I think this would have been an acceptable answer to your question.
http://www.google.com/search?q=string+theory |
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The whole idea of string theory is very crazy and I don't follow much of what they are doing with it, even in the nova episode. But it makes some sence in a strange, head exploding way. But I only know much about it because it is so weird, I like it. Does it's findings, what it could mean change how I do anything, no, but it is fun to try and wrap your brain around n-dimentional branes. |
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NOW, I DO believe in string theory, and I love it, but I think we need to take a step back and look at what really classifies as science (gravity & evolution) and a theory and what isn't. (i.e. creationism & intelligent design). |
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Re: String Theory
As discussed before, string theory is based on the unifying of the four fundamental forces of nature (this is through Theory of Relativity and Quantum Physics);gravity, electromagnetism, weak force, and strong force. Currently weak force and electromagnetism have been linked. Mathematicians and scientists are currently working to unify the Strong Force and Electroweak Force. My understanding is that they are very close to completing work proving the combonation of the two forces. The biggest challenge lies in the unification of gravity. Gravity has a very small effect on atoms and even smaller the corks that make up atoms. Currently (if what I've read is true), we do not have the technology to make measurements on gravity at such a small size; thus not allowing us to make any physical test for observation. Is this a theory? Yes because nothing is proven but the idea is out there kicking around and not completed. Is it a law of science yet? No, we don't have any proof saying that it's true and completed.
Hope this is helpful, -Pat |
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When you make statements like this in a public forum, you are guaranteed to offend several people. May I suggest that you carefully consider your statements. Posting your opinion is fine, but be ready to prove it. One example of proving a point: Let's consider the clotting mechanism of the blood. What triggers it? What prevents it from triggering all the time? What tells it when to stop? Evolution says this process had to develop over time. If that were true, no forms of warm blooded creatures could survive. Once the first cut occurred, the creature would bleed out. :ahh: Modifying this behavior, over time would not work, all creatures with blood would die. But, suppose clotting did develop, without the ability to stop the process, the entire bloodstream would clot. Again, the creature dies. :mad: and no further progress is made on the clotting process. Lastly, the trigger mechanism shouldn't work unless needed otherwise the same result would occur, death. :eek: One failure in any of these steps would have the same result. All three processes need to develop simultaneously and completely without failure. I just don't see evolution supporting this process. Intelligent Design on the other hand............. :cool: I'm not trying to flame you Joseph. I'm just expressing my opinion, and I believe there are more facts to support (I didn't say prove) my point of view than yours. This is just one. Nothing personal. |
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If you want, I'll get into the fallen nature of man, you know, the Adam, Eve and sin thing. In a nut shell, we were created perfect! But though choosing to sin, Adam began a downward spiral for all mankind. As an example, look at the lifespans of Adam, then his children, then grandchildren, then.... You will see a gradual shortening all along the way. That continued until very recent history when man discovered and learned a lot more about how we are (sorry for this) created and function. Now our medical treatment, technology and abilities are far greater than they have been throughout history. That being said, we still know so little about life it's self. Gettin' heavy here..... One of the greatest abilities God gave us was the ability to choose. Ultimately, those choices lead to where we are now. So you ask "Why would God give it to us?" Because you can't be forced to love something, you can only choose to. |
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(BTW, You say that there is a hole in my logic. If there is, then explain, using evolutionary principles, how the clotting mechanism developed from a one celled organism to what it is today. I would love to understand how such a complex process could have developed without any errors in the process throughout it's development cycle.) Oops, I digress. Sorry, feel free to PM me if you want with the explanation. This thread (string :D ) has drifted far enough |
Re: String Theory
Although there are many equations that support string theory, much of the theory depends on assumptions. String theory answers many questions about physics, but some of those answers are just generated so that the answer can be incorporated into the theory.
However, there are some specific experiments that will be done that can confirm some of what string theory has said and if the experiments are successful, they might give some very solid evidence. The "Laser Interferometer Space Antenna" will be launched in 2013, and is supposed to detect "gravity waves" from the big bang which are predicted by the theory. The Large Hadron collider which is currently built will search for particles predicted by string theory. I was personally very happy when I saw the cover of the August 2005 Discover magazine: "Is String Theory about to Snap?" |
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