String Theory?

Question

I have tried to understand the string theory for a while, but every website I go to, it is too complex for me. The only thing I think I understand about it, is that everything effects everything else in the universe. Can someone explain the string theory in Lamens terms? OR atleast give me a website that would explain it so an idiot like me can understand it.

Answer 1

I affirm Louls G, Read "The Elegant Universe" by Brian Greene. The book is much, much better than the PBS documentary, which I considered worse than useless.

I consider it impossible to get a useful, intuitive feel for what string theory is all about. The properties of matter and forces are determined by the vibrations of 'strings' with no clue about what 'strings' are. Its power is that you can do the math to calculate the implications of your theories without ever understanding what's really behind it.

If there's an idiot, it's not the one who doesn't understand string theory. It's the one who thinks he understands it, without having spent years in serious study of it, including actually doing the math.

Answer 2

Read "The Elegant Universe" by Brian Greene.

it's a great book. He goes through newtonian physics, Einstein, General relativity, special relativity, quantum mechanics, and yes, string theory. He puts it all in laymans terms so most people can understand it.

Answer 3

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/program.html

3 hour documentary on string theory, general relativity and quantum physics. it's awesome.

Answer 4

Results 1 - 10 of about 228,000 for string theory for dummies.

(from a quick search at a competing search engine)

Answer 5

It says that everything is made of little vibrating loops of strings, smaller than protons, neutrons, etc.

Answer 6

Strings are like vibrations or something.