Can anyone help explain string theory?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

I own a copy of The Elegant Universe produced by NOVA. I highly recommend Netflixing it if you are truly curious about string theory.

String theory describes "strings" as the solitary basic building block of the universe. The theory states that strings vibrate at different frequencies and bend into different shapes thus producing the various building blocks of which we are already aware at every tier of physical structure, such as electrons, silicone, sand, and concrete, that form things like the Empire State Building, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Orion's Belt. Of course, the theory is just a theory, so it is not backed in the video with mounds of evidence. Instead, the video spends three hours translating the concepts and implications of string theory into layman's terms. The video does do a good job of describing requirements of a successful unification theory, and why it has been difficult to derive. It also describes the relationship of the four forces that string theory aspires to unify: gravity, electromagnetism, strong force, and weak force.


The Elegant Universe succeeds in romanticizing particle physics. I don't know if string theory is true, but my wife and I have made out while watching that video several times.

Answer 3

The theory is that sub-atomic particles can be broken up into further parts called strings. These strings are tiny bundles of energy that vibrate. They vibrate like strings on a guitar, in certain directions that make up our dimensions

The reason behind this is to find a "Grand Unification Theory". Right now, we have a problem because the the theory of Gravity and electro magnetism and quantum mechanics are not agreeing with each other, so string theory will hopefully be able to unify them.

Answer 4

I have no real knowledge of string theory. I do know that if you go to PBS.org. You can find a link to the program called Nova then go to The Elegant Universe. There you will find a wealth of info. on string theory. I just did.

Answer 5

Every subatomic particle is created by 1 type of particle called a string.
The vibration of the string determines the type of particle, different vibrations = different particles.

Answer 6

Hah. No. Stephen Hawking can.