ok...... i really dont see the direct "contradiction and conflict" of:
1) THEORY of GENERAL and SPECIAL RELATIVITY
2) and THEORY OF QUANTUM MECHANICS
???? can you elucidate this distinction? thanks....
2006-09-11 15:27:09 · 8 answers · asked by cool nerd 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Put simply, due to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle (HUP), as you restrict the possible locations of a particle to very small distances, you expand the possible momenta of that particle tremendously. In fact, if you restrict a particle's existence to one single point in space, the spectrum of possible momenta of that particle is infinite.
The problem with combining relativity and quantum mechanics is that relativity is concerned with momentum at every point in space. Your reference frame (how you move through spacetime) is determined by your momentum. However, as you start looking at very small regions of space, the momentum spectrum of possibilities explodes to infinity. It is this infinity that is incompatible with relativity. Infinite momentum possibilities results in infinite reference frames. Things just don't gel.
This is why string theory is so appealing. It replaces the infinitesimal point with a finite-length string. This allows us to collapse position probabilities to a finite space, thus only expanding momentum probabilities to a finite space. This finiteness makes things compatible with relativity.
Most other attempts at combining relativity and quantum mechanics ALSO come from assuming that there is some fundamental element of space that has a specific discrete size. That's to get around the HUP.
(note: The reason why this is so difficult to explain is because a true explanation requires vocabulary from linear algebra that is usually only available at a graduate level of mathematics. The HUP is actually not special to quantum mechanics; it's a more general property of functions that is often called the "uncertainty principle." For more information, study Fourier transformations)
2006-09-12 11:54:59 · answer #1 · answered by Ted 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
2) you mean "M" theory, or merely the theories of quantum mechanics itself?
Einsteins theories do not directly conflict with Quantum mechanics, in fact at their deepest concepts they actually compliment each other.
Some people think otherwise. They think "oh, two theories, two different names, they must be different, and only one can be correct." that way of thinking is too close minded.
2006-09-11 22:33:34 · answer #2 · answered by Kevin M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Relativity is part of Quantum Mechanics. There is no conflict nor contradiction.
2006-09-11 22:28:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Relativity, especially general relativity, deals with the phenomena of large things: stars, galaxies, black holes. Quantum mechanics deals with the physics of very small things: atoms and subatomic particles.
2006-09-12 00:58:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Analog versus digital.
2006-09-11 22:34:31 · answer #5 · answered by GMoney 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the conflict between classic and modern physics i guess
2006-09-12 06:15:42 · answer #6 · answered by koki83 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
u gotta learn soem dude
the incpatobility is the particle postioon? witch cant be determind
watch and learn
http://www.cutepiggy.com/parallel_universes
2006-09-11 22:32:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, I can't. Thanks for asking.
2006-09-11 22:36:02 · answer #8 · answered by class act 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋