My Husband has tried explaining it to me, but I'm still having a hard time understanding it. I really want to though! Is there anyone out there who can explain it laymans terms for me? It seems fascinating....
2006-08-31 20:17:43 · 7 answers · asked by aht12086 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Some pretty good answers. To add a few more comments from what I've read, it's really more a hypothesis than a theory, since there is no experimental work supporting the existence of strings. Mathematically, it seems to offer the possibility of unifying all the fundamental forces by providing a framework for a quantum theory of gravity which would include general relativity as a limiting case. There's a long history of elegant mathematics suddenly popping up in our universe once we know what to look for, and many believe string theory will follow the same path.
On the other hand, it seems to be pretty difficult to come up with lab tests to help indicate which of the umpteenth possible solutions for the equations actually describe our universe. I think the "super" part may reflect on so-called supersymmetry wherein there are believed to be as yet undetected heavy counterparts to the fundamental particles we currently are aware of. Detecting such a particle would be a big step for validation.
2006-09-01 00:33:36 · answer #1 · answered by SAN 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is some good and bad and very bad in all the answers. The problem being that you're not going to be able to get an adequate answer in this forum. Not enough room here. Entire books are devoted to this. And, like with all new theories which have not had all or most of their aspects confirmed, there are several differing camps to subscribe to.
Small [smaller than Planck length]closed "loops" of "string" vibrate or resonate in certain ways which cause the particles, such as quarks, they make up to have certain properties. Strings are theorized to be the answer to the question: What is the REAL smallest constituent part of matter? The Greeks thought it was the atom [from atomos meaning indivisible], Chadwick and Rutherford and I think Fermi found the electrons, protons and neutrons inside the atom. Places like CERN and Fermilab and SLAC have found quarks inside the electrons. How small can we go?
I would suggest reading some of the following sources. Yes, I know it is a cop out and I did not really answer your question, but I hopefully can lead you to an answer.
2006-09-01 07:33:23 · answer #2 · answered by quntmphys238 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there's actually a whole lot that entails the theory, but i can tell what i know...
string theory tells that the fundamentals that make up the world around us are made up of tiny vibrating strings rather than the electrons, protons, quarks and so forth. whether the string is closed or open, and how fast it vibrates determines its energy and what it makes up. in order for string theory to be true, i think there must be 11 dimensions that we actually live in, tiny curled up dimensions obviously. string theory works in the most minute scales, in the planck scale which is 10 to the negative 33 power, but we can't see that microscopically yet, so we can't prove it. string theory has been called the theory of everything because it ties together the theory of relativity with quantum physics. umm lemme see... i really don't know what else to say right now, but i can recommend a really good book that can answer all your questions. Elegant Universe by Brian Greene. check it out, you'll be able to understand it, too.
2006-09-01 04:13:03 · answer #3 · answered by blah 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is fascinating!
A super string is a model for an elementary particle.
At present, in what is called the Standard Model of particle physics, quarks, electrons and the like are considered to be pointlike. This gives (mathematical) problems at short distances where for instance the forces between two of them becomes infinite.
The basic idea of super strings is that elementary particles are closed strings of a length of order of 10^35 m. The strings vibrate at specific frequencies. This solves the problem I mentioned above.
However, the simplest string theories give more problems then they solve and consistent theories require more than four dimensions.
2006-09-01 04:07:01 · answer #4 · answered by cordefr 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I sat up late for the last three days trying to understand it. So far all I have gotten out of it is that it's just another way of looking at subatomic particles which solves one mathematical problem but which creates others. M-theory employs as many as 26 different dimensions and I have a hard time imagining more than 4 or 5 dimensions. I guess it all depends on how far you are willing to go with a mathematical equation as regards space/time folding in upon itself.
2006-09-01 04:23:12 · answer #5 · answered by synchronicity915 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Super String theory is an extended form of the Big Bang theory. According to this theory, the event called The Big Bang is not the beginning of our universe. This theory tells that our universe has got a parallel universe and when these two universe collide, the Big Bang takes place. According to this theory, each and every particle in this universe is made up of string that consist of a graviton enclosed by a string like structure. There are two types of strings. They are open strings and closed strings. Closed string constitute harder particles that cannot be mingled with each other. Open strings constitute softer particles like clay which can stick to each other. This theory also says that the possibility of having an extra terrestrial life in our univese is high.
2006-09-01 04:35:57 · answer #6 · answered by s s 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
dress up like a school girl and put on sopme sexy underwear, when yr man comes home pretend that he is the teacher and u have a question, put a lolly pop in yr mouth and look all inocent tell him that if u undersatnd the theory u have a special present for him, and run the lollypop around yr... while u say that.
sure it wil be fun for both of u to find out about that theory...
have fun
2006-09-01 03:22:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋