The Tangent Side Blog

The Tangent Side

The science is always wittier on the Tangent Side. Here you'll find puzzles, games, and a hand-drawn webcomic aimed to reveal the humor that sometimes only a technical mind can appreciate. The Tangent Side comic was created by Doug Terhune (Juzek89) originally as a fun project/distraction amidst the rigors and long lectures of engineering college.
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The Tangent Side - String Theory Conclusion

Posted April 06, 2013 12:00 AM by Juzek89
Pathfinder Tags: comic string theory

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tcmtech
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#1

Re: The Tangent Side - String Theory Conclusion

04/06/2013 9:28 PM

Well I drew a bunch of odd shapes and things that look like they might be greek symbols and other stuff on a big board. You know things that the average person would think are high level physics, but really its just a bunch of nonsensical scribble I sort of copied from some website called CR4' s horseshoe shaped button thingy on their editor screen.

To be honest I am no closer to figuring out string theory than I am to tying my shoes with my ears but at the moment lots of politicians give me money and everyone thinks I am real smart.

Last week I couldn't spell theoretical research scientist. No today everyone thinks I is one!

Next week I is on to global climate change!

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ffej
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#2
In reply to #1

Re: The Tangent Side - String Theory Conclusion

04/07/2013 5:03 PM

That's right.

If you don't understand something: no one undersatands it.

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Anonymous Poster #1
#3
In reply to #2

Re: The Tangent Side - String Theory Conclusion

04/08/2013 3:57 AM

undersatands understands
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passingtongreen
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#4

Re: The Tangent Side - String Theory Conclusion

04/08/2013 8:04 PM
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Tornado
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#5
In reply to #4

Re: The Tangent Side - String Theory Conclusion

04/08/2013 11:53 PM

...or Charlie Brown's kite string...

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WoodwardDL
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#6

Re: The Tangent Side - String Theory Conclusion

04/09/2013 4:53 PM

Math is a modeling tool to allow us to enter some variables and find a desired result. Just because a math function comes close to a known result does NOT mean the math model is (was) correct. String Theory is a result of of an intense effort to make a formula that fits everything we "think" we know today.

If it turns out to work for all cases, my next question is "where did those strings come from?".
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tcmtech
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#7
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Re: The Tangent Side - String Theory Conclusion

04/10/2013 11:48 AM

It always amazes me how many people get that backwards and think that real life should follow what a mathematical formula or theorem suggests and not the other way around.

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truth is not a compromise
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#8
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Re: The Tangent Side - String Theory Conclusion

04/12/2013 7:45 AM

"All models are wrong. Some are useful."

.

....Ms. South Carolina contestant; great example.

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passingtongreen
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#9
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Re: The Tangent Side - String Theory Conclusion

04/12/2013 9:00 PM

Then you are up against Albert Einstein, he said that the theory is in the mathematics, not in the visualized model he used to propose the theory.

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truth is not a compromise
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#10
In reply to #9

Re: The Tangent Side - String Theory Conclusion

04/12/2013 9:28 PM

Do you have the quote from Einstein? I'm curious to hear what he said.

.

I think mathematics is still a model (although one that can lead to predictions that often end up highly correlated with reality).

Visual models are just a small subset of the various types of models.

.

Some go so far as to suggest that every perception of reality relies upon theory/models.

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Anonymous Poster (1); ffej (1); passingtongreen (2); tcmtech (2); Tornado (1); truth is not a compromise (2); WoodwardDL (1)

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