What is String Theory ?
GUT- Grand Unified Theory
TOE- Theory Of Everything
String Theory : Any class of theories in physics that describe the
fundamental particles and their
interactions as one dimensional
entities - strings. (Taken from Q-is for Quantum )
So how did we get to our present view of the Universe ?
Numerous Pre- Newton thinkers
Early Ancients - Ptolemy Geocentric Model
(earth centered universe)
Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) - Heliocentric Model
(sun centered)
Galileo (1564-1642) - makes important observations that
support
Copernicus's heliocentric model
(phases of Venus, moons of Jupiter)
also begins to experiment
with gravity
Johannes Kepler (1571- 1630) - Uses observational data
from Tycho
Brahe to prove the heliocentric
model and demonstrates that orbits
are not perfect circles but
ellipses follow
Kepler's Third
Law: Period^2 = semi-maj axis^3
Issac Newton (1642-1727)- Develolpes Calculus, He uses mathematics
to develop laws
of motion in Newtons Law's 1st inertia
2nd F=ma
3rd action and reaction
With these
laws he attemps a theory of gravity (universal law of graviation)
which for our everyday experiences are still valid.
F=G(m1*m2)/r^2 introduces G, the
universal constant of gravitation
These laws explain Kepler's claims. Newton then
provides a more precice form
of Kepler's Third Law.
Newtonian
Mechanics dominates numerical description of reality
Michael Faraday (1791-1867) - introduces the
concepts of fields ( where interactions
such as gravity, electricity,
and magnitism extend their influence without the
need for a medium-aether ) and
lines of force
Starts important work on electricity and
magnitism,
formulates
laws of electrolysis (1833)
James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879) - Uses Faraday's idea's of the
field, electricity and
magnitisim
to develope the Electromagnetic Field Theory
This
theory describes light, electricity, and magnitism at the classical level
Albert Einstien (1879-1955)- Gives us relativity
theory
Special relativity in particular builds on Maxwell's equations
assuming
Newtonian
Mechanics is wrong (1905)
Genral relativity deals with a genral description of accelerating matter
(1916)
Introduces time as the forth dimension and the ideas
of Space-time and
world line
This sets the standard for modern classical physics and describes most
of the large scale observable universe up to this time. However mytserious
things were being observed on the small scale. Classical physics was at
a loss for an explination of these conflictions.