Ask a theoretical physicist turned teacher, lecturer and author

[Edwardo Piet]

If you divide something that is a Planck's Length long by two, how long is it? Asking for a friend.

Half the length that it was before you divided it by two.

Wow this physics stuff is really easy. And you get paid for this Alex?

[Mister Agenda]

If you divide something that is a Planck's Length long by two, how long is it? Asking for a friend.

How do you divide it?

With a hacksaw a quarter Planck Length long.

[vorlon13]

Have I ever inflicted this one on you before:

OK, if matter and antimatter are mixed you get energy, and rather a lot of it.

Now imagine a hypothetical form of 'matter' that when mixed with regular matter yields nothing, that is, no energy, and both forms of matter cancel out and there is nothing left if the masses are equal.

Now imagine another form of matter that when mixed with antimatter yields nothing.


OK, now mix the first form of hypothetical matter with the second form of hypothetical matter.


What do you get ?

[ErGingerbreadMandude]

Do you think the cool anti gravity devices in movies that allows objects to freely float around could one day be an actual device available for purchase?

[Kernel Sohcahtoa]

My apologies if my question is vacuous (or if it has already been asked), but out of curiosity, what skills are absolutely necessary for success in theoretical physics? Do you have to be impossibly intelligent, incredibly curious, extremely focused, etc.?

[Anomalocaris]

Insert shaft into hole, pump the handle, and if you are good enough, Big Bang happens.

I notice you left God out of the equation.

Why is that, heathen?

Excusez moi, mon Cheri.  

Insert shaft into hole, pump the handle, and if you are good enough, Oh God, Oh God, Big Bang happens.

[Alex K]

My apologies if my question is vacuous (or if it has already been asked), but out of curiosity, what skills are absolutely necessary for success in theoretical physics? Do you have to be impossibly intelligent, incredibly curious, extremely focused, etc.?

Not impossibly intelligent. You have to be above average to very intelligent. A miraculous IQ sure helps, but is not a guarantee for success, and not necessary for it either. You have to be gifted enough at abstract maths that you can learn advanced topics in finite time. In addition to those basic requirements, curiosity to see and come up with exciting questions, a creative mind to find solutions and, last but not least, an excellent ability to think strategically about which topics are both interesting and within your capabilities to attack.

[vorlon13]

A big dick and being irresistible to the ladies doesn't hurt either.

[Alex K]

Ah, and lots of stamina, fearlessness and excellent frustration tolerance.

[Alex K]

Do you think the cool anti gravity devices in movies that allows objects to freely float around could one day be an actual device available for purchase?

Actually cancelling gravity is very difficult because unlike electrical force, ordinary gravity always attracts and adds up, and it is even difficult to impossible to make substantial amounts of positive gravity. Making negative gravity would require negative energy, and that doesn't seem to exist except in minuscule amounts via e.g. the Casimir effect. So if there are anti-gravity devices I would expect them to use some kind of other force other than gravity to counteract gravity.