Understanding M-theory and Its Implications for Dimensions and Scales

[narrator]

Hi,

Reading up on dimensions, like the m-theory's 11 dimension model, I'm unsure what is meant by this. Does it mean 7 more dimensions beyond space and time, or does it mean something akin to 11 universes in the multiverse (ours being 1 of the 11)?

When relating this to string theory, does it perhaps have implications of scale? What I mean by this is a sequence like: multiverse > universe > planet > element > molecule > atomic particle > subatomic particle > something even smaller etc

When I hear about multiple dimensions, my lay thinking struggles to understand what exactly is meant and if science has some idea what characteristics the other dimensions might have.

A lot of what I've read seems to assume people have a handle on these questions.

(Shows like Quantum Leap and Sliders do little to disabuse the average punter.. lol)

 

[twofish-quant]

Reading up on dimensions, like the m-theory's 11 dimension model, I'm unsure what is meant by this. Does it mean 7 more dimensions beyond space and time

Yes. The idea is that you have 7 other directions that are curled really tightly.

When I hear about multiple dimensions, my lay thinking struggles to understand what exactly is meant and if science has some idea what characteristics the other dimensions might have.

Nothing really. In string theory, the idea is that the seven extra dimensions are all microscopic, and so you don't see them directly except in the way that they cause particles to act in the way that they do.

 

[narrator]

Thanks Twofish.. that helps a lot :)

Just now reading about open and closed strings.. How literal do I take that? I imagine they're more an analog which describes their behavior that actual physical representations.