What is String Theory?

In the debut webisode of "What Is...?" Ian Crossland goes to Venice Beach to find the answer to the question "What is String Theory?".

Created by Jeremy Cohen & Ian Crossland
Cinematography/Editing/Music by Jeremy Cohen

Watch the the follow up vlog "What Is Wrong?": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5ZX4_eTIEo
Watch more of Ozzy from Survivor here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJirnbkEnpo
Watch more of Ian's philosophy on string theory here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s4gXXmgg18

Subscribe to Ian Crossland: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=iancrossland
Subscribe to Jeremy Cohen: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=hinjufilms

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• ian
• crossland
• jeremy
• cohen
• venice
• beach
• string
• theory
• quantum
• physics
• time
• relativity
• science
• hinju
• hinjufilms
• crossmack
• interviews

[tacobandit]

Wow. If any parents out there ever wanted to encourage their kids to study physics instead of take drugs, this is a great PSA. Seriously kids, if you do drugs you might end up like this clown. An embarrassing ignorant BS spewing fool. Not entertaining, not funny, not interesting, not smart, just boring and tiresome and annoying. This druggy crap is not what string theory is about, luckily.

[IanCrossland]

@tacobandit Don't be a douche, this is funny.

[IanCrossland]

@tacobandit Sorry, I reacted out of spite. It's just a drugged out way to look at things. Drugs! Chemicals! Oh my God resource! Make sure you get enough iron.

[N3v3r3nd1ng]

"It's awesome . . . Colors." LOL

Can't say how good it is to see you with a refreshing new energy. Good luck.

[K4inan]

M-theory is so interesting :)=

[takikuapinpan]

Is this like a Kassem G: the physic's geek version?

[DjAces11]

No i can keep watching The Big Bang Theory without feeling like a complete idiot

[mathforphysics]

@AtheismandSkepticism

Don't underestimate Lieber. If you read it carefully no one will no that you learned GR from a book aimed at high school students. It covers all the basic mathematics (Tensors, Christoffel Symbols, The Geodesic Equation,...) and fully derives the classic experimental results (the change in the perihelion of mercury, time dilation, etc.) For learning basic GR FAST, then check out Chapter 5 of Robert Wrede. Introduction to Vector and Tensor Analysis (Its cheap too)

[mathforphysics]

@AtheismandSkepticism

Modern Approach:

Bernard Schutz. A First Course in General Relativity. is probably the simplest introduction to to the modern mathematical approach to GR. Contravariant and Covariant Vectors are introduced as functions (not merely objects that transform according to the usual rules.) Chapter 5 is probably the simplest and clearest introduction to tensors that I've read. The problems are good too. Many of them were genuinely interesting and not too tedious/difficult.

[AtheismandSkepticism]

@mathforphysics

Actually, can you recommend any other books that are more in depth than Lillian Lieber's? D'Invernio is a bit pricy here in the UK...

[AtheismandSkepticism]

@mathforphysics Awesome, thanks so much.

I haven't got the recommended text yet. The first half of our course is an introduction to tensors and tensor calculus, from which I've been using the free ebook "Introduction to Tensors for students of physics and engineering" by Joseph C Kolecki, from NASA.

I'll definitely pick up Lillian Lieber's Einstein's Theory of Relativity. Thanks for the tips...

[mathforphysics]

@AtheismandSkepticism

I'll start narrating them soon. Most of the current videos will be deleted and replaced. If you would like a video on a specific problem, send me a message and I'll try to solve it. I might have the same textbook

(When I took GR we used D'Invernio, but I have other books too). What textbook are you using?

And if you are having trouble with GR, the easiest mathematical introduction is Lillian Lieber's Einstein's Theory of Relativity

[AtheismandSkepticism]

@mathforphysics lol. Another thing I hate is the whole 'mystical' aspect people bring to QM and particle physics, like Deepak Chopra, when it's nothing of the sort & people actually take these guys seriously!!

Anyway, I like your videos. Any chance you could narrate them whilst you write? You'll definitely get a ton more views and it'll help explain it more clearly. I'm 1/2 way through my General relativity course and I would greatly appreciate it, because it's pretty tough maths

thanks anyway

[mathforphysics]

@AtheismandSkepticism

I was going to correct that too, but you beat me to it. And I agree with your other point.

[AtheismandSkepticism]

@AtheismandSkepticism

PS, just saw the apology video, sorry.

But your other videos are just as bad. I don't know where you learned physics, but you might want to get a refund.