Gravity in relation to string theory.

[mcpacker]

I have watched numerous shows about physics and I am curious if I understand gravities apparent weakness due to 11 dimensions correctly. The way I made sense of it was by picturing myself at the bottom of a steep hill. At the top of the hill I saw a huge amount of water coming down hill. It looked as though I was about to be engulfed by all the water but I then noticed numerous deep holes all over the hill. The majority of the water flowed into those holes and once the water got to me it was far less than what started at the top of the hill.

 

[mcpacker]

I was not trying to come up with a new idea. I have only taken a physics class once and because of that I should probably not even try to understand this stuff. I just saw a tv show where they talked about gravity and 11 dimensions. I just wanted to see if I understood correctly and since I got no replies I am guessing I was way off. I love physics but at the moment I know practically nothing about it. I would have appreciated a reply even if it was just to say "You are clueless. Stop asking stupid questions."

 

[javierR]

Sorry to hear you didn't get a reply before. The analogy is roughly ok, it's certainly not stupid. In considering a "lower dimensional effective theory", there is a diluting effect due to the fact that there are really dynamics in the "extra dimensions" that we are ignorant of. This means interactions effectively look weaker in our 4-dimensional world relative to what they would be if we lived in a higher-dimensional world. There are other factors that can go into changing the effective strength of interactions, but this one is the most generic.

 

[mcpacker]

Thank you for the reply. I'm glad I was not way out there in my analogy. Physics is very fascinating to me. I know getting a formal education will be far more rewarding than trying to be an amateur physicist. Hopefully in a few years I will be able to come to this forum and understand the more technical stuff.

Again thank you for the reply javierR. I tend to soak up information but not knowing the technicalities of what I hear makes it hard to discuss that information.

 

[benjob]

I have developed a interest in quantum physics & quantum gravity. Reading, watching documentaries and finding myself just thinking about the effect of gravity.

Just thinking about the subject of gravity and our interpretation of a higher gravitational dimension I assume we cannot directly witness its effect as it is happening on a subatomic level at the very level of strings. So at this scale can space warp dramatically touching directly on the gravitational dimension almost a shadow dimension. Are black holes an immense versions of what is happening at every point of the universe, a large scale singularity.

Could this effect be carried in every piece of energy, every virtual particle that appears creating direct connection to this dimension that causes the binding of matter on ours. Sort of a subatomic low energy wormhole.

Like I say I'm no expert and I'm guessing that at this granular level of space time it wouldn't take much to warp space dramatically.

 

[mcpacker]

I hope you are not asking me this question and have just decided to hijack my insignificant thread.