What is the conflict between General theory of relativity and Quantum theory?

In summary, the conflict between General Relativity and Quantum Theory lies in the difficulty of combining the two theories due to issues such as conflicting mathematics, theories about spacetime curvature, quantization, and non-locality. Attempts to merge the two theories have not been successful and there are several unresolved issues, such as the disagreement on the computation of the vacuum energy density and the treatment of space and time as fixed parameters. It is also thought that the true theory of quantum gravity may involve a quantized spacetime.
  • #36
sahmgeek said:
what type of object would be able to observe a singularity?
Anything that falls into the singularity.
 
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  • #37
Chalnoth said:
Anything that falls into the singularity.

??

Singularities = infinite density (most likely in the form of energy, not in the form of matter since their is also infinite gravity, right?)

does energy make observations? what I'm getting at is that i don't think an "observer" of any kind that we are familiar with could exist at a singularity. could it?
 
  • #38
sahmgeek said:
certainly, i get that this is perplexing. perhaps that's the point (and it may not be "wrong"). *shrug*

Did you read the rest of my post?

Infinity is a mathematical concept, it doesn't make sense to use it in the real world, it is absurd. You can make 2+2=5, or pretty much anything you want using infinity.

Like I said in my previous post, if the center of a black hole was a singularity, then it would have infinite density, implying infinitesimal size. I something is infinitesimal, then it would have taken an infinite amount of time to get that way. Which is obviously impossible.
 
  • #39
sahmgeek said:
??

Singularities = infinite density (most likely in the form of energy, not in the form of matter since their is also infinite gravity, right?)

does energy make observations? what I'm getting at is that i don't think an "observer" of any kind that we are familiar with could exist at a singularity. could it?
It's always possible to use a hypothetical point particle as an "observer", usually called a test particle. The behavior of all such test particles should be sensible, no matter their path. Claiming anything else would literally be nonsense.
 
<h2>1. What is the General Theory of Relativity?</h2><p>The General Theory of Relativity, also known as the Theory of General Relativity, is a theory of gravitation developed by Albert Einstein in the early 20th century. It is a geometric theory that explains the force of gravity as a curvature of space and time caused by the presence of mass and energy.</p><h2>2. What is Quantum Theory?</h2><p>Quantum Theory, also known as Quantum Mechanics, is a theory that describes the behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic level. It explains the nature and behavior of matter and energy on a very small scale, where classical mechanics (such as the General Theory of Relativity) fails to accurately predict or explain observations.</p><h2>3. What is the conflict between General Theory of Relativity and Quantum Theory?</h2><p>The conflict between General Theory of Relativity and Quantum Theory lies in the fact that they both describe different aspects of the universe and are based on different principles. The General Theory of Relativity explains gravity and the behavior of large-scale objects, while Quantum Theory explains the behavior of particles at a very small scale. However, when trying to apply these theories to extreme situations, such as the beginning of the universe or the center of a black hole, they produce conflicting results and cannot be reconciled.</p><h2>4. How have scientists attempted to resolve this conflict?</h2><p>Scientists have been attempting to reconcile the conflict between General Theory of Relativity and Quantum Theory for decades. Some attempts include string theory, loop quantum gravity, and other theories that seek to unify the two theories into a single framework. However, these theories are still in the early stages of development and have not yet been confirmed through experiments.</p><h2>5. Why is it important to resolve this conflict?</h2><p>Resolving the conflict between General Theory of Relativity and Quantum Theory is important because it would lead to a more complete understanding of the universe. It would also allow us to accurately predict and explain phenomena in extreme conditions, such as the behavior of matter in the early universe or inside black holes. Additionally, a unified theory would have practical applications in fields such as quantum computing and space travel.</p>

1. What is the General Theory of Relativity?

The General Theory of Relativity, also known as the Theory of General Relativity, is a theory of gravitation developed by Albert Einstein in the early 20th century. It is a geometric theory that explains the force of gravity as a curvature of space and time caused by the presence of mass and energy.

2. What is Quantum Theory?

Quantum Theory, also known as Quantum Mechanics, is a theory that describes the behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic level. It explains the nature and behavior of matter and energy on a very small scale, where classical mechanics (such as the General Theory of Relativity) fails to accurately predict or explain observations.

3. What is the conflict between General Theory of Relativity and Quantum Theory?

The conflict between General Theory of Relativity and Quantum Theory lies in the fact that they both describe different aspects of the universe and are based on different principles. The General Theory of Relativity explains gravity and the behavior of large-scale objects, while Quantum Theory explains the behavior of particles at a very small scale. However, when trying to apply these theories to extreme situations, such as the beginning of the universe or the center of a black hole, they produce conflicting results and cannot be reconciled.

4. How have scientists attempted to resolve this conflict?

Scientists have been attempting to reconcile the conflict between General Theory of Relativity and Quantum Theory for decades. Some attempts include string theory, loop quantum gravity, and other theories that seek to unify the two theories into a single framework. However, these theories are still in the early stages of development and have not yet been confirmed through experiments.

5. Why is it important to resolve this conflict?

Resolving the conflict between General Theory of Relativity and Quantum Theory is important because it would lead to a more complete understanding of the universe. It would also allow us to accurately predict and explain phenomena in extreme conditions, such as the behavior of matter in the early universe or inside black holes. Additionally, a unified theory would have practical applications in fields such as quantum computing and space travel.

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