Thanks for the tip. I'm in the process of ordering the Knopp book. It sounds interesting.
In the meantime, I still have reservations about this infinite series that is used in String theory, and I'm wondering if this would disqualify it as a theory of reality.
Very interesting... but now my head is spinning. Is this a math trick? We all know that 1+2+3+4+5+6+...= infinity. So how can this 1+2+3+4+5+6+...= -1/12 be justified?
Hmm... I don't follow this. Can anyone explain in simple language how adding an infinite number of numbers -- a series that is clearly divergent -- become -1/12?
I'm following An introduction to the Standard Model of Particle Physics. Are there any solutions to the problems? Is there a better book to follow?
Would appreciate, tx.
JP
This is exactly what bothers me. In a gravitational field, ice is considered to be in a state of high entropy, when you look at degrees of freedom. But put that ice on a counter, vis-a-vis its environment, it is in a state of low entropy.
There seems to be a logical contradiction, how can one...
I don't know if this is the appropriate forum for my dilemma, but here it goes:
Second law of thermodynamics says that the entropy in the universe increases. In every texbook I have learned, ice is considered to have low entropy. When it melts, entropy increases. When that water becomes water...
When a photon passes from a high gravity field to a low gravity field, it is redshifted. Therefore it has less energy. Where does that energy loss go to?