Can anyone give me a good place to find info on string theory? I already tried to read the elegant universe...

Answer 1

Go on to www.youtube.com. Search for the Elegant Universe. Watch all 3 parts. Trust me when I say that the video is a lot more helpful than the book.....Or email me at [e-mail]. I will explain it to you. But while emailing, introduce yourself as the one who asked this question on yahoo answers!

Answer 2

The "Elegant Universe" PBS series is easier to digest than Greene's book. But in the shell of a nut, here's what string theory is all about:

1. Everything is made up of infinitely thin, vibrating strings of energy about !0X10-34 cm long, which is called a Plank's length. To put this into perspective, if the cuticle on your fingernail were expanded to the size of our known universe (about 14 billion light years in radius), a string would be about the size of your curticle right now in normal space.

2. What a string appears to us in normal space depends on the frequency that string is vibrating at. So, depending on its frequency, a single string might be a light particle (a phonton) or it might be some exotic atomic quantum like a muon or lepton. It might even be a graviton, the theorectical messenger particle that attracts mass under the force we call gravity.

3. Strings exist in more dimensions than we can observe in our four dimensional universe (3 spatial, 1 time). Some say 10 dimensions; some say 11...but they all say more than four. There is disagreement on why we can't see the other dimensions. Some say its because the extra ones are very very small (smaller than a Plank length). Others say its because the added ones are larger than our universe.

4. There were five competing string theories trying to unify our universe's four fundamental forces (gravity, electro magnetic, strong and weak atomic) under one set of equations. Ed Witten came along and showed that the five string theories were just different points of view for the same physics...he called this M Theory.

5. Currently string/M theory has not been validated through experiment. So the theory is more a hypothesis than it is a theory. They hope the large Hadron collider at CERN will provide some experimental evidence that string theory is more than a WAG (a hypothesis).

6. There are other theories consistent with string theories. One, the Higgs Field, posits that space is made of higher dimensional force fields. When strings travel in the direction of these fields, they appear massless (like a photon). When strings tavel opposite to the force fields, they behave like inertial mass. The Higgs has never been observed either.

I hope that give you an idea how strange and bizare advanced physics has become in its search to explain gravity and the other three forces under one theory.

Answer 3

First, I easily have blanketed the stable information superhighway website on string concept (link below). 2nd, the e book "The stylish Universe" via Brian Greene (he's a string physicist) is an remarkable creation to thread concept for the non scientist. Einstein did no longer create string concept and in fact it replaced into attempting to describe some flaws or wholes in his motives of the universe that led to string concept. no person individual (as that 3 particle physicist observed a similar issue on a similar time and then quickly there have been 5 diverse theories of strings (now blended in large string or M-concept via yet yet somebody else) created string concept. to handle your question in all likelihood no longer. Einstein could no longer even settle for the findings of his very own artwork that debris have been entangled (someone-friendly of quantum mechanics) via fact it replaced into no longer explainable in classic words of physics. additionally, the size (a minimum of 11 ought to exist for large string concept to be real) that are theorized are all on the sub atomic (no device usual to guy can diploma something as small as they're reported to be) point. So, in concept once you wave your hand every time you're passing by 11 dimensions yet you do no longer word it via tiny result. So, different dimensions are in comparison to parallel worlds the place each little thing exist on a similar point yet in simple terms out of area with us. while you're at a loss for words you have began to hold close large string concept in case you think of you recognize or can comprehend it very almost each physicist working interior the sphere assist you to comprehend that's a helpful sign which you are not getting it. Edit: yet protecting questioning and asking questions. I consistently locate your questions stimulating and that they carry approximately added questions that must be researched. Psi

Answer 4

I just got a book called "The New Cosmic Onion" by Frank Close which I haven't started reading yet, but I think it would be a good introduction to the topic.

Answer 5

Check the library's file of back issues of "Scientific American" and "Discover" magazines. Now you tell me the address of a brain expert who can tell me what portion of the human brain is designed to absorb string theory.

Answer 6

Superstrings and the Search for the Theory of Everything - it's old, but it doesn't hit you with a bunch of complicated math. It's an overview.

Answer 7

I'd say don't waste your time. It'll be clear soon enough that it's a B-S theory, a bit of Ptolomeic epicycle nonsense.

Answer 8

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_theory