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mathshead
can something tell me what the theory of relativity and quantum are, and how they are not compatiable with each other?
Yahoo ! 5.5 lines ! You're the man Hurkyl !Originally posted by Hurkyl
General Relativity is a theory about gravitation. It says that the universe has an intrinsic curvature which is generated by the location and flow of mass and energy, and our perception of gravity is really just the natural tendency of matter and energy to flow along the curves of space-time.
Originally posted by Hurkyl
General Relativity is a theory about gravitation. It says that the universe has an intrinsic curvature which is generated by the location and flow of mass and energy, and our perception of gravity is really just the natural tendency of matter and energy to flow along the curves of space-time.
Quantum Chromodynamics is a theory about electromagnetism and the weak & strong forces. It says that the concept of "simultaneous knowledge of position and momentum" is gibberish.
When you put the two together, things blow up.
Basically, if I understand it correctly, what happens is that QCD tells you that you don't know both the position and the momentum of a particle. This means that GR doesn't know exactly how space-time should be curved. This uncertainty magnifies the uncertainty in our knowledge of the particle's position and momentum... thus we're even less certain how it bends space time...
This self-perpetuating uncertainty keeps feeding and growing, until uncertainties become infinite!
Now, Quantum Mechanics works with such loops; less naive techniques are used to "renormalize" equations to get rid of the infinities... however the infinities involved with gravitation have resisted all attempts at being normalized away.
Hurkyl
this isn t quite accurate. first of all, QCD is a theory of the strong nuclear force only. the theory that encompasses the strong and electroweak forces is known as the standard model.
The main conflict between relativity and quantum theories is that they have different principles and laws that govern the behavior of the universe. Relativity deals with large-scale objects and gravity, while quantum theory deals with small-scale particles and their interactions.
Scientists are currently working on developing a theory of quantum gravity, which would combine the principles of both relativity and quantum theory. This would provide a unified understanding of the universe at both the macro and micro scales.
Yes, there have been several experiments, such as the double-slit experiment and the EPR paradox, which have shown that the principles of both relativity and quantum theory are necessary to explain certain phenomena. However, a complete reconciliation of the two theories has not yet been achieved.
Some proposed solutions include string theory, loop quantum gravity, and the holographic principle. These theories attempt to unify the principles of both relativity and quantum theory by introducing new concepts and mathematical frameworks.
Understanding the compatibility of relativity and quantum theories is crucial for creating a complete and accurate understanding of the universe. It also has practical applications in fields such as cosmology, particle physics, and technology development.