The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Member Map
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. Non Life Sciences
  3. Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology
  4. Why does string theory (M theory) require extra dimensions.
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Why does string theory (M theory) require extra dimensions.

  • 1 Replies
  • 377 Views
  • 0 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Outcast (OP)

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • 49
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 1 times
  • Naked Science Forum Newbie
    • View Profile
Why does string theory (M theory) require extra dimensions.
« on: 24/06/2020 05:19:38 »
The depictions always show the strings vibrating  and floating in a space resembling the dimensions we commonly see, but the experts tell us that the theory requires several extra dimensions to operate coherently. They never tell us why.
Can someone provide a brief description of why standard dimensions are inadequate, and what the extra dimensions provide?
(Please, no moderator responses.)
Logged
 



Offline evan_au

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 9026
  • Activity:
    76%
  • Thanked: 887 times
    • View Profile
Re: Why does string theory (M theory) require extra dimensions.
« Reply #1 on: 24/06/2020 10:08:14 »
String Theory is a candidate for a "Theory of Everything", vying to unite the incompatible aspects of Quantum theory and General Relativity,
- General Relativity (published by Einstein in 1915) has succeeded in every test thrown at it over the past century. It assumes that the universe exists in a 4-dimensional spacetime.
- Quantum theory  (developed by many experimenters and theoreticians during the 20th century) has also been very successful, but it still has many unexplained aspects to the "particle zoo" which researchers discovered.

Physicists see particles like the electron behave like a wave - and there are other "similar" particles, the muon and tau which look like heavier (and unstable) siblings of the electron. Similar family relationships occurs for neutrinos and quarks.
- Physicists would like to explain the relationships between these all these family members by a common underlying theory
- The basic premise of string theory is that all these particles are resonant waves which are quantized -  by being constrained by dimensions of spacetime. The dimensions of Einstein's spacetime are very large, and don't support resonances of the required energy. String Theory hypothesizes that there are additional dimensions that are rolled up in extremely small dimensions, producing high energy resonances (the particle families we observe).
- At this time, this premise cannot be proved.

General Relativity and Quantum theory are compatible on the large scale (matchbox size and larger), but produce awkward infinities on subatomic scales in the vicinity of black holes. So they can't both be right.
- Just as light was shown to be a quantum effect by Einstein & others (thus avoiding some awkward infinities)
- Physicists expect that gravity will also be a quantum effect, & hopefully also avoid some awkward infinities
- But so far, this happy marriage has not happened. String Theory has reproduced the known behavior of General Relativity - but to date this has not made the awkward infinities disappear.
- I will leave resolving this as an exercise for the reader... ;)

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_everything
Logged
 



  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Tags:
 

Similar topics (5)

Does space require space before it can expand?

Started by thedocBoard Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology

Replies: 11
Views: 3048
Last post 27/10/2016 17:32:26
by jeffreyH
Does A Fully Mirrored Room Require Less Light To Light It?

Started by neilepBoard General Science

Replies: 11
Views: 3742
Last post 18/06/2017 17:21:02
by vhfpmr
Should Theoretical particle physicists and String theorists learn chemistry?

Started by Soul SurferBoard Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology

Replies: 9
Views: 15857
Last post 13/12/2011 11:58:26
by Soul Surfer
Those life jacket things!! Pull a string.. Inflates with air!!!

Started by SeanyBoard General Science

Replies: 1
Views: 3489
Last post 09/07/2007 13:40:09
by another_someone
Building a bridge out of straws, string and popsicle sticks?

Started by brstamperBoard General Science

Replies: 9
Views: 14595
Last post 25/05/2008 23:35:12
by brstamper
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
  • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
    Privacy Policy
    SMFAds for Free Forums
  • Naked Science Forum ©

Page created in 0.148 seconds with 38 queries.

  • Podcasts
  • Articles
  • Get Naked
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe to newsletter
  • We love feedback

Follow us

cambridge_logo_footer.png

©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.