What is a "dimension"? How can there be 11? And what is the "string theory"?

Question

im so confused...

Answer 1

Being very simplistic, string theory is the belief that all physical matter is made up of vibrating elements called "strings." Officially known as "superstring theory," it differs from traditional physics, in which all matter is made up of ball-like particles.

Dimensions are simply a perspective. Carl Sagan explained it well in his book "Cosmos". I'll try to do him justice...

Think of a point ( . ) There is no left or right or up or down. That is simply one dimension. A line on the other hand, has a left or right. That would be the second dimension. Now this analogy rocks....

If you drew a circle and a triangle and cut them out and looked at them edge-wise, they would still look like lines to you. So now, imagine a plce called "flatland". Everybody looks alike because they can only see straight in front of them. Rooms only have to be squares, cuz nobody can look up or down, so there is no ceiling... One day an apple falls into flatland and dings a circle and sends it flying up into the air. Oh the wonders it sees! It can see down! Everybody has a shape, they're not just lines. It can see into "closed" rooms too! Now as circle falls back into flatland, it lands in front of a triangle. From the triangles perspective, circle just "appeared" out of nowhere. That "up" would be the third dimension. I know this was a long story, but basically told so that you can see it from flatland perspective. As we go up a dimension, everything would look and behave totally differently.

Time is considered the fourth dimension, and each successive dimension would have its own unique yet hard to understand properties. How would you explain "up" to someone who lives in flatland?

Answer 2

You are not alone...

String theory is the theory that the basic building blocks of our universe are tiny vibrating "strings".  We call them strings because their supposed vibrations remind physicists of way strings vibrate (similar equations, they are far too small to be detected in any way we know).  The way these tiny strings vibrate make the objects we can detect.  Photons, Electrons, Protons and etc.

You know about 4 dimensions, the 3 you move in and time is the fourth.  Time is a good example of the concept that all dimensions are not equal and don't need to behave the same way.

So how can you have a dimension you can't see or feel?  Well imagine a (mostly) two dimensional plane that actually has some thickness, but very little.  The idea is if it was thin enough, compared to the creatures living on it, these creatures might think they were two dimensional because they wouldn't be able to see the 3rd dimension or move up or down a noticeable amount.  In the case of strings they actually think these dimensions are tightly rolled up, more of a case of really long thin tube being confused with 1 dimension but the reason it is "hard to see" is basically the same.

So why is it so interesting?  No one has a good theory that explains both why gravity works the way it does and why quantum mechanics works, string theory might "unify" all our theories.

Answer 3

a dimension is a form of "viewing" in a sense. We are in the 3rd dimension at the present, the 3rd dimension is what we see and have in front of us right now, it is life, colour, air, space, time, light, gravity, sound, water, our environment etc (everything) the 2nd dimension is what we create like what we see on our t.vs, in our books, drawings etc. not something real but something that is still there to be percieved in a sense of itself. Some believe in a 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th and 11th dimension (however it is only based on theory and would never visually be able to be displayed in front of human eyes (biologically or genetically enhanced)), these are all forms of in simpler words "visual spaces of time".

The "String theory" is a still-developing mathematical approach to theoretical physics, whose original building blocks are one-dimensional extended objects called strings. Unlike the point particles in quantum field theories like the standard model of particle physics, strings interact in a way that is almost uniquely specified by mathematical self-consistency, forming an apparently valid quantum theory of gravity.

interesting question you posted. Can pose a great number of debates and conclusions. thank you.

Answer 4

When you understand all that, your brain will Hurt.

You know the first 4 dimensions, width, height, thickness and time

The other ones get really involved  and complicated

String theory, like Kaos Theory is sort of understandable when it is explained, but hard to remember once you have heard it

Sorry, My brain Hurtz

Answer 5

i love this question and I'm glad you are asking it ! i have to say String Theory is one of the smartest and best theories in the history of mankind...i strongly recommend a book called Extra Dimensions by this great guy called Michio Kaku... also try looking up youtube...there are some great videos there... also this website is very useful :

http://www.tenthdimension.com/

good luck !!!