Explore the extraordinary numbers in physics and their role in explaining fundamental truths of the universe in this 58-minute lecture by leading theoretical physicist Tony Padilla. Delve into concepts such as black holes, holographic truth, and the cosmological constant problem through the lens of unusually big, small, and infinite numbers. Learn about a googol, visualize a googolplex, and grasp the magnitude of Graham's number. Understand entropy, its measurement, and the information content of numbers. Discover the holographic principle and its implications for our understanding of reality. Examine unexpected physics arising from small numbers and confront the cosmological constant problem in this fascinating journey through the mathematical underpinnings of our universe.
Overview
Syllabus
Introduction
A googol
Visualising a googolplex
How big is Graham's number?
Understanding entropy
How do you measure entropy?
How much information is there in a number?
We are all trapped in a hologram
The holographic truth
Unexpected physics from little numbers
The cosmological constant problem
Taught by
The Royal Institution
