The Problem with Quantum Mechanics

Figure 1

The principal of quantum mechanics that makes it incompatible with general relativity is the fact that quantum mechanics does not work with gravity. You have already seen the way large objects take gravity into account with the rubber membrane analogy. If we use the same analogy applied to quantum mechanics, the result is what is shown in figure 1. As you can see, it is a quantum mess. The problems do not stop there. Many of general relativity’s mathematical formulas, when applied to the quantum world, give ridiculous results, suggesting things like infinite energy.

Forces also propose another incompatibility between quantum mechanics and relativity. Quantum mechanics accounts for only three of the four forces in physics: electromagnetic force, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force. Gravity is not accounted for in quantum mechanics because its force is cancelled out on the quantum level. Quantum gravity can best be described as a “foam” of fluctuation in which positive and negative forces of gravity interact and cancel. Therefore, since gravity, the foremost force of relativity, is not accounted for, the equations of quantum mechanics cannot be easily united with the equations of relativity. However, because the Kaluza-Klein theory of additional dimensions (discussed in history) shows that the force field of gravity is similar to that of electromagnetic force, it is possible to apply the same laws to both forces, allowing for some new model to unite the two theories. The forerunner of these models is the superstring theory.