Someone said they solved Newtonian physics with string theory

In summary, the conversation was about someone claiming to have solved Newtonian physics with string theory. The OP questioned the validity of this claim and the practicality of using string theory in a high school physics test. It was suggested that the person may have just made up an answer to the problem and tried to blame their failure on the school. It was also mentioned that it is unlikely for a high school student to have enough knowledge of string theory to use it in a test. The conversation also veered towards the state of education in developed countries, specifically the strictness and religious influence in Australian schools.
  • #1
shredder666
63
0
someone said they solved Newtonian physics with string theory
Is that possible? in a test situation?
 
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  • #2
How does one solve Newtonian physics?
 
  • #3
And who said they did it?
 
  • #4
By "solved", the OP may mean "encompasses". Any GUT certainly should.
 
  • #5
well I was in a discussion about the state of education in developed countries, one person said, to sum it all up, australian schools suck because
1. they're overly religious
2. too strict (and I do mean strict)
3. he was given F in a high school physics test because he used string theory to solve Newtonian...
Now when I heard that I just wanted to know 1. if that's possible and 2. why would someone do something like that

given the nature of high school school courses, his question was probably like...

whats the force acting on an object if ... bla bla bla...
 
  • #6
When a problem can be solved with classical physics, you use classical physics. Otherwise, you're either wasting time, disrespecting the reader, showing off or having fun. In general, the most concise the better. Obviously, string theory isn't part of any high school curriculum.
 
  • #7
To solve a problem in Newtonian mechanics with string theory, you would have to show that string theory predicts spin-2 particles and that they make stuff move as described by general relativity, then explain how general relativity is related to special relativity, then explain how Galilean spacetime is related to the spacetime of special relativity, then explain how Newton's theory is just a specific way to introduce matter into Galilean spacetime, and then, finally, use F=ma to solve the problem. Seems like a long way to go when he could have started with F=ma. It's more than likely that he just made up some BS answer that had the word "string" in it, and then tried to blame his failure on the school.
 
  • #8
I have very strong doubts that anybody attending a high school test would have enough knowledge of string theory to be credible in using it to solve a concrete problem. That being said, if the argument was general enough to skip the calculation, I would probably have given F even to a valid proof : the student would not have provided proof that he understood the course material, which is what the test is about. That is my feeling anyway, to really judge one should provide the details of the course, the test, and the answer.
 
  • #9
shredder666 said:
3. he was given F in a high school physics test because he used string theory to solve Newtonian...
Next time, if you could title the OP with this it would save us a lot of time in just not bothering to respond at all (even sarcastically &&|| patronizingly)
 
  • #10
shredder666 said:
3. he was given F in a high school physics test because he used string theory to solve Newtonian...



Them illiterate Australian high-school teachers that don't know simple stuff like GUT and ST!

On second reading, it seems his statement had more to do with the physics of cocaine/marijuana than with string theory.
 
Last edited:

What is Newtonian physics?

Newtonian physics, also known as classical mechanics, is a set of laws and principles developed by Sir Isaac Newton to explain the motion of objects in the physical world. It is based on the concepts of force, mass, and acceleration.

What is string theory?

String theory is a theoretical framework in physics that attempts to explain the fundamental nature of the universe by describing its smallest building blocks as tiny, vibrating strings instead of point-like particles. It is a branch of theoretical physics that aims to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity.

How does string theory relate to Newtonian physics?

String theory is a more comprehensive and advanced theory than Newtonian physics. It is believed that string theory can unify and extend on Newtonian physics by providing a more complete understanding of the fundamental forces and particles in the universe. However, it is still a work in progress and has not yet been proven.

Can string theory truly solve Newtonian physics?

While string theory has the potential to provide a deeper understanding of the universe, it is still a theoretical framework and has not been experimentally proven. Therefore, it cannot be definitively said that string theory has solved Newtonian physics. More research and experimentation is needed to fully understand the implications and applications of string theory.

Why is it significant if someone claims to have solved Newtonian physics with string theory?

If someone were to claim that they have solved Newtonian physics with string theory, it would be a significant achievement in the field of theoretical physics. It could potentially lead to a better understanding of the universe and its fundamental laws, and could potentially have practical applications in technology and engineering. However, it is important to note that such claims should be thoroughly tested and verified by the scientific community before being accepted as fact.

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