quantum theory and the theory of relativity for the common man--the importance of these concepts for everyone?

Answer 1

Quantum Theory: A statistical theory on the probable position and behavior (e.g., energy, momentum) of elemental particles (e.g., electron, proton). Usefulness is that it predicts with a fair amount of accuracy the position and behavior of the particles. The limit is that is a statistical theory, that never actually tells you why it is really occurring or what the particles truly look like, ...it predicts what will happen pretty accurately.

Relativity can be broken into two parts, General Relativity and Special Relativity, they are completely different theories. General relativity deals with exaplining gravity by using teh conservationn of a metric (dx^2+dy^2+dz^2+c^2dt^2=constant). Special relativity is the transitional result between refernce frames by teh imposed position that no one can go faster than the speed of light.

General relativity describes some astronomical observations accurately.
Special relativity explains some elemental particle lifetimes accurately, and some time vaiations accurately. Neither is a statistical theory.

Hope that helps

Answer 2

quantum theory explains how particles interact. Without it no one could have thought about chips and made them work. So any electronics today would not exist. And that's just one example. Another example is nuclear power.

relativity is less relevant for everyday life, it has more to do with things at the scale of at least a large planet, better a large star. This being said Einstein's work on relativity led him to the famous E=mc2, which led to the thinking about whether we might not be able to extract some of that huge energy from matter, which led to nuclear power plants. And also led to the first understanding of how stars work. ANd if stars weren't there to generate heavier elements from the lighter ones that were the only ones in the first stages of the Universe, and werent' there to keep planets alight and warm, we would not be there.

Hope this helps a bit

Answer 3

Relativity and Q.M. are physical models of systems on extreme scales. Either extremely large, extremely fast, extremely small, etc.

Because of these extreme scales theses have little effect on your daily lives. The exceptions are some of the gadgets you use. For example modern electrons rely on Q.M. and GPS would not work will out general relativity. The layman understanding these theories unnecessary. They don't affect driving cars, cooking food, arresting criminals, etc. That being said I think its important to be well educated and to understand what these theories imply even if you don't understand how or why.

Answer 4

More in the message than the content: when you try to think about the material universe in a logically self-consistent and rigorous way, informed by the results of experiments rather than faith (see above), the world is far more wonderful and strange than you might have guessed.

Answer 5

I know all about the "theory of relativity"and what the truth is is that we are all related in this.We were all CREATED by the SAME CREATOR.That's all folks.