STRING THEORY: THE ELEGANT UNIVERSE
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Just as the different vibrational patterns of a violin string give rise to different musical notes, the different vibrational patterns of a fundamental string give rise to different masses and force charges. More frantic vibrational patterns have more energy, while less frantic ones have less energy. Thus, according to string theory, the mass of an elementary particle is determined by the energy of the vibrational pattern of its internal string. Heavier particles have internal strings that vibrate more energetically, while lighter particles have internal strings that vibrate less energetically. So we see that, according to string theory, the observed properties of each elementary particle arise because its internal string undergoes a particular resonant vibrational pattern. The “stuff”of all matter and all forces is the same. Each elementary particle is composed of a different string –that is, each particle is a different string –and all strings are absolutely identical. Differences between the particles arise because their respective strings undergo different vibrational patterns. What appears to be different elementary particles are actually different “notes”on a fundamental string. The universe –being composed of an enormous number of these vibrating strings –is akin to a cosmic symphony.
Brian Greene
The Elegant Universe