Foundational Theories
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Special Relativity The speed of light is the speed limit for the universe. Light travels at the same speed regardless of relative position. When applied to Newtonian physics, it provided new relativistic formulas for motion. 4 |
Quantum Theory Hot objects emit electromagnetic radiation. If the energy carried off
by radiation is added together, the total energy produced is calculated
to be infinite. Max Planck deduced that if energy was emitted in discrete
packets, quanta, it would be a finite quanity of energy. Radiation of
frequency v comes in quanta of energy E = hv where h is Planck's constant
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Quantum Mechanics Explanation of atomic particles including bosons |
General Relativity Einstein saw that special relativity was in contradiction with Newtonian
gravity because the classical interpretation required the instantaneous
transmission of force between two objects. General relativity accounts
for a discrepancy in Mercury's orbit, predicted that light would be bent
by a gravitational field (proved by Eddington during a solar eclipse),
predicted the existence of black holes and gravitational radiation, and
describes an expanding universe. "Gravity is a manifestation of the
curvature of space-time." The equation for space-time geometry becomes
Gµv = 8piGTµv
where G is Newton's contant |
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Quantum Field Theory Quantum Field Theory is the unification of quantum mechanics and special
relativity. This union required the creation and annihilation of quanta.
QFT expresses elementary particles as mathematical points of zero size
(quantum effects give rise to apparent size by "smearing" them).
It allows the construction of gauge theories characterized by Lie group
symmetry structure. Of these theories, the Standard Model is based on
the Lie group SU(3)xSU(2)xU(1) |
Kaluza-Klein Theory A dimension is either large and directly observable or small and practically invisible. Present particle accelerators can only observe to about 10^(-18)m, so any curled-up dimensions smaller than that are currenly unobservable. The properties of these curled-up dimensions determines the properties of the elementary particles. 1 |
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