RJA 9

Kaku, Michio. Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes, Time Warps, and the 10th Dimension. Anchor Books, Doubleday. New York, New York. March 1995. Copyright 1994 by Oxford University Press. Print.

Kragh, Helge. Contemporary History of Cosmology and the Controversy over the Multiverse.     Department of Science Studies, University of Aarhus, Aarhus 800, Denmark. Recieved April 1, 2009. Revised paper accepted May 13, 2009. Online.

Schwarz, Patricia. The Official String Theory Website. http://superstringtheory.com/links/index.html. Web. Sunil Mukhi. String Theory and the Unification of Forces. Published November 8, 1995. Revised October 7, 2000.

RJA 8b

RJA 8b: Field Research Plan:

I will create a survey on my topic. Then, using the resources we have been provided through class, I will post it online. I think it would be interesting to survey both people with a background in physics, but also the common person, just to see the contrast that education makes, and the diversity of opinion. This survey will have to be relatively plain and straightforward, with questions such as the following:

1.) Do you believe that there are other universes out there?

2.) Would these other universes be considered separate universes or a part of our own multiverse?

3.) What separates one universe from another?

4.) What is the primary basis of your theory?

5.) Does a universe have multiple or parallel dimensions?

I also hope to conduct a few interviews via email or posting on the web through the expert search engines provided us through class. For these interviews, I will select college professors of science or physics, or perhaps a Dr. of physics at a museum. These people would need to have enough education and knowledge on our universe and what makes it up, that they can teach it to others. Ideally I would select physicists and cosmologists to interview. Interview questions I will ask include the above questions as a warm up, and will get more in depth with additional questions such as:

1.) How many dimensions are there in our universe? Why does this matter?

2.) How can there be multiple universes that do not collide with each other? Or do they collide or intersect?

3.) How does a multiverse function as opposed to multiple universes?

4.) Do you agree with Superstring Theory? If so, which version do you prefer?

5.) What inspires you to quest for the answers to our universe?

RJA 8a

RJA 8a: Freewriting:

In our small universe with only 4 dimensions, the laws of physics and quantum mechanics cannot be unified. The major problems stopping unification are that of the weak force of gravity when compared with the other three forces of electromagnetism, strong, and weak nuclear forces; and the issue with light, which can move as waves or photons. The current theory on this is that we are only seeing a small part of the big picture. We need to expand our scope of vision so that we can see the entire picture.

            The Kaluza-Klein Theory was published in 1921. It added a fifth dimension which unified the issues of light and gravity with the other laws and forces. This theory was that first accepted look at hyperspace and started quite the sensation. Kaluza-Klein Theory has evolved in to what we today call “String Theory” or “Superstring Theory. In these theories, sub-atomic particles, the building blocks of everything, are either fermions; which make up matter, or bosons; which make up force. These fermions or bosons are simply strings of energy, which can be a line or a closed circle, and vibrate at certain frequencies depending on what sub-atomic particle they are, or choose to be. The elegance of this theory is observed through Supersymmetry, which states that for every boson there is a corresponding fermion.

            The current theory is that we live in a ten dimensional multiverse. This is the correct amount of dimensions needed to unify the study of the tiny sub-atomic particles of quantum mechanics, with the study of the immense and massive of cosmology. These dimensions are tiny and curled up, so that we do not currently have the technology or knowledge to locate them. However with them, all four forces become aligned; light acts as we would expect; and the universe simply makes sense.

RJA 7A Criteria Evaluation

Book:
Kaku, Michio. "Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey through Parallel Universes, Time Warps, and the 10th Dimension". First Anchor Books edition. Published  by Doubleday, New York, March 1995.

1.) Authority-Michio Kaku is a professor of theoretical physics at the City College of the City University of New York. He is a Harvard graduate, and then recieved his Ph. D from the University of California, Berkeley. He has authored many books, has hosted a radio science program for over ten years, and often appears as a speaker, authority, or expert opinion on television shows and documentaries.

2.) Timeliness-This particular book of Mr. Kaku's, is quite a bit older, published in 1995, especially in the world of science. However, it is being used to describe the history and basics of cosmology and quantum physics studies, in an effort to acquaint people with the basics, before moving on to the more in depth and mind-blowing Multiverse and its multiple dimensions.

3.) Documentation-Mr. Kaku often refers to past theories, ideas, scientists, mathematicians, etc, throughout his work. In addition, in this book, he includes an acknowledgements page, a notes page which has all the information from his footnotes throughout the book, a references and suggested reading page, and an index. He uses footnotes throughout the book to give due credit, and to further explain anything that is neccesary.

4.) Purpose and Audience-This book is intended to excite the general public and involve them in the fascinating world of physics and in their own universe. Mr. Kaku is amazing at making such difficult and incomprehensible subject, easy to understand and picture. His book is both popular and scholarly, being that he is a doctor of physics, but he is trying to extend his teachings to the general population in an interesting way. The only bias it shows is his love for what he does and the universe he lives in.

5.) Review Process-The only reviews this book has that I am aware of, are those on the back cover. There are book reviews from the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and the Philadelphia Inquirer; all glowing! 

6.) Suitability-This book contains quite a bit of the information I need. It is written very well, at a level that I can read and understand.

Article:
Arkani-Hamed, Nima, Savas Dimopoulos, and Georgi Dvali. "The Universe's Unseen DIMENSIONS." Scientific American Special Edition 12.2 (2002): 66-73.

1.) Authority- Nima Arkani-Hamed, is an assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley, which is where he recieved his Ph.D. in physics. Savas Dimopoulos, has been a professor of physics at Stanford since 1979. He recieved his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Georgi Dvali, recieved his Ph.D. in high-energy physics and cosmology from Tbilisi State University in 1992.

2.) Timeliness- This is an older article, from 2002, but it suits my purpose. It explains the extra dimensions of our universe so easily that anyone can understand. Since the material was written as the break-throughs in multiple dimensions was actually occurring, it is current to the information it is explaining.

3.) Documentation- The article is followed by an extensive "more to explore" section with sources that were used in the article and further reading. Of course Scientific American, is a highly esteemed periodical.

4.) Purpose and Audience- This article was written for the readers of Scientific American, science students, professors, even physicists; along with the average curious person. It is simply there to educate those who wish to learn, and uses terms that everyone can understand and comprehend. It is scholarly and is not biased.

5.) Review Process- I truly thought that this article would have been peer-reviewed, but I could not find any information to uphold my theory.

6.) Suitability- The article is very well written and easy to understand. It takes such an extensive and confusing subject and lays it out in a way that is easy to comprehend. It is written in the average person's language and uses description and imagery to convey the tiny, curled up dimensions that are being sought after.

RJA 7B Webpage Annotation

7b: Webpage Annotation:

http://www.diigo.com/user/dmurphyeng1020

http://superstringtheory.com/

http://superstringtheory.com/basics/basic2.html

http://superstringtheory.com/basics/basic3.html

http://superstringtheory.com/basics/basic4.html

http://superstringtheory.com/basics/basic5.html

RJA entry 1

Ideas for my research project:

1.) Does dark matter really exist?

• Is this topic academic or scholarly? Yes
• Could the research be answered positively? Yes
• Can it be answered and supported in 3900 words? Yes
• Can you find at least 12 sources on this topic? Yes
• Do you already know a lot about this topic? No
• Have you already formed an opinion on this topic? No
• Have you already used this topic for a research paper? No

2.) Is our universe the only one that exists?

• Is this topic academic or scholarly? Yes
• Could the research be answered positively? Yes
• Can it be answered and supported in 3900 words? Yes
• Can you find at least 12 sources on this topic? Yes
• Do you already know a lot about this topic? No
• Have you already formed an opinion on this topic? No
• Have you already used this topic for a research paper? No

3.) Is Objectivism the true ethics?

• Is this topic academic or scholarly? Yes
• Could the research be answered positively? Yes
• Can it be answered and supported in 3900 words? Yes
• Can you find at least 12 sources on this topic? Yes
• Do you already know a lot about this topic? No
• Have you already formed an opinion on this topic? No
• Have you already used this topic for a research paper? No

4.) Was Medea truly a murderess?

• Is this topic academic or scholarly? Yes
• Could the research be answered positively? Yes
• Can it be answered and supported in 3900 words? Yes
• Can you find at least 12 sources on this topic? Yes
• Do you already know a lot about this topic? No
• Have you already formed an opinion on this topic? No
• Have you already used this topic for a research paper? No

5.) What is the foundation and basis of Dianetics?

• Is this topic academic or scholarly? Yes
• Could the research be answered positively? Yes
• Can it be answered and supported in 3900 words? Yes
• Can you find at least 12 sources on this topic? Yes
• Do you already know a lot about this topic? No
• Have you already formed an opinion on this topic? No
• Have you already used this topic for a research paper? No