| Term Paper Title | The Superstring Theory |
| # of Words | 4606 |
| # of Pages (250 words per page double spaced) | 18.42 |
The Superstring Theory
Abstract: The Superstring theory is quite possibly one of the leading "Theories of Everything." Meaning
that, it proven, it would postulate all of physics in one equation. The history of Superstrings and the
conditions that brought it forth are viewed as wells as the impending implications of this discovery.
Notice: This research paper approaches the subject of Superstrings from a quantitative viewpoint due to the
lack of breadth of mind (of the author). Meaning, the author does not have the college graduate education
to grasp the quantitative mathematics behind the phenomenon of Superstrings. Additionally, since the
nature of Superstrings is purely theoretical, the essence of it is rightly in its impact to the Physics
community regardless of deference or validity. Please keeps these points in mind, and remember that
Aristotle said, "All men by nature desire to know."
One day, a promising physics student walks into a professor's office wanting to find out what
physics could teach him. This student, only having a rudimentary knowledge of physics, asks, "Can you
give me a definition of physics?" The sage rolls his eyes back, and rubs his temples. He replies, "Big or
small?" The student baffled by this, prompts again, "Um, physics?" The teacher noticing the ignorance in
the room explains, "Physics is split into two major fields: Relativity (Einstein) and Quantum. Thus, they
explain big forces in nature and small forces in nature, respectively. They are not cross-applicable." The
student, still baffled, persisted, "But if physics explains nature, how is it that nature can be prejudiced in
what applies? I mean, why can't you just plug in numbers into equations and get the right answer,
regardless of how small or large the numbers becomes?" The reply, "Well, you can. Well, we think that
we think we can --- Well, we're not sure. But !
you and the public at large won't like the answer. It demands that the universe be in 10 dimensions, and
that Lie mathematics produce symmetries that are boggling to the mind." Yet still inquiring the student
questions, "Is there a name for this?" Yes, they are called Superstrings.
"Superstrings are one of the ways in which we are trying to go our present understanding of matter
and its interactions; way beyond, in fact, to a description of all of matter, and perhaps of everything, in
terms of little strings moving in ten dimensions ." So says David Gross one of the leading figures of
Superstring theory (he is one of the "Princeton Quartet, the creators of the Heterotic Superstring Theory to
be discussed later). In fact, if a theory of Superstrings becomes an axiom of physics, physics would in turn
become the study of strings. That is what a "Theory of Everything" (TOE) entails. It would be an all-
inclusive theory that explains everything from black holes, the creation of the universe, and the "missing
mass (9:4)." However, all-inclusive would be limited here in that the TOE would only united all of the
LAWS of physics in one equation, which is a hallmark achievement, but not a theory of EVERYTHING.
A revolution that unifies the laws is at best ge!
nerations away; however, the history of physics suggest that many major discovers are often accidental and
surprisingly ubiquitous. This document will explore the circumstances leading to, through, and the lasting
effects of the superstring revolution.
A crucial characteristic of the universe is the belief that in the moment before the "Big Bang" (this
is a reference to a theorized event), everything was in a super dense ball of which had one super force.
Then from the creation of the universe, the super force broke into four forces that now maintain the status
quo. These forces are as follows: 1. Electromagnetism: the force that holds the atom together and is the
force that causes radiation or light, 2. Gravity: the attractive force that binds together the solar system and
keeps the earth and the planets in their orbi...Read entire document
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