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Is a unified field theory possible: Understanding the problems between Relativity and Quantum Mechanics?
Shaurya Panwar
PART-1
In modern physics, there are to major theories that describe the functioning of the universe: Relativity, the study of massive objects, and Quantum Mechanics, the study of subatomic particles. Ever since the two theories were proposed they have never been coherent and seemingly hate each other. Let us first investigate the fundamentals of each theory and understand why they build a puzzle that just does not fit.
1.1 Relativity
There are two main theories that Einstein proposed describing the relative nature of time. The first, Special Relativity proposed in 1905, describes the relationship between energy and mass using the famous equation E=mc2, Where E is the energy, m is the mass and c is the speed of light. The special theory of Relativity is used when discussing huge energies, ultra-fast speeds, and astronomical distances, all without the impact of gravity.
According to the Special Theory of Relativity, as an object approaches the speed of light its mass becomes infinite and so does the energy needed to move it. This imposes that it is impossible for matter to travel faster than the speed of light.
An analogy used to explain the theory of relativity is that of the train. Imagine a person shoots a beam of light on a wall, the photons will be travelling at the speed of light. But if a person travelling in a train were to shoot the same beam of light, would the beam of light hit the wall, at the same distance, faster than the stationary shooter? It does not, both beams hit the wall at the same time. But how is this possible, the speed of light is constant, and according to Newton the velocity of the train and beam of light should add up, and therefore should be faster. However, we know nothing can travel faster than the speed of light and therefore the only explanation for the phenomenon would be that time, for a moving object is slower relative to an inertial/stationary observer.
The General Theory of Relativity published in 1915, is Albert Einstein’s understanding of how gravity affects the fabric of space time. This bridged the gap by including the effects of gravity in special relativity. Einstein theorized that massive objects wrap the fabric of Space-time[1], a distortion that manifests itself in the form of Gravity.
In his general theory of relativity, Einstein stated that the laws of physics stay the same for all inertial observers and proved that the speed of light in a vacuum is the same no matter at the speed at which the observer travels.
He also determined that space and time were interwoven into a single continuum known as space time. Moreover, events that occur at the same time for one observer might occur at a different time for another.
This is how Einstein envisioned Gravity. Imagine setting a large object in the center of a trampoline. The object would press down into the fabric, causing it to dimple. If you then try to roll a marble around the edge of the trampoline, the marble will spiral inward toward the body, pulled in much the same way that the gravity of a planet pulls at rocks in space. [2]
[1] Space-time can be thought of as a 'fabric' in which the objects of the Universe are embedded.
[2] Tillman, Nola Taylor, et al. “Einstein's Theory of General Relativity.” Space.com, Space, 5 Jan. 2022, https://www.space.com/17661-theory-general-relativity.html.
