Is there such thing as 4D, and if so, what is it?

helenasykes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_dimension Jul 09 06, 2:32 PM

What-A-Mess

The "Fourth Dimension" is inconceivable to Man. Until Man actually experiences this probable concept it will remain an infinite picture that has yet to be painted in our finite minds. Jul 09 06, 7:05 PM

elburcher

Minkowski's Four dimensional space as explained by Albert Einstein is in his Special Theory of Relativity and is simply “x, y, z and t”. The following explanation of that expression I have paraphrased from the book “Relativity Explained” by Albert Einstein. Space is a three-dimensional continuum. The positions of an object at rest can be described by three numbers (co-ordinates) x, y, z. Similarly, the world of physical phenomena is naturally four-dimensional in the space-time sense. For it is composed of individual events, each of which is described by four numbers, namely, three space co-ordinates x, y, z and a time co-ordinate, the time value t. Jul 09 06, 7:25 PM

What-A-Mess

Theoretically, Yes. Soley because it is the only answer that man can postulate. It is about a projection through space thusly making it about "time" (time does not exist). Time has a beginning and an end yet the Universe is infinite which contradicts the definition of time completely. Again......It is ALL theoretical. Jul 09 06, 7:38 PM

peasypod

... without going into all the depths of Euler angles, time, and the mainifolds of Poincare conjectures, perhaps you just look at the illustration at the top right hand side of this site, to get an easy grasp of what it can represent mathematically, focusing on the tesseract. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimension Jul 09 06, 7:48 PM

elburcher

“x, y, z and t”. The simplest example would be to think of yourself sitting at your computer... You are at an Altitude, for example say 25 ft (X), a Latitude 35.5 degrees north(Y) and a Longitude 106 degrees west(Z), at a specific time say 8:36 PM (that would be the T.) Three SPACE co-ordinates X=25ft Y=35.5 Degrees N Z=106 degrees W and the TIME co-ordinate t=8:36 PM There you have it! Jul 09 06, 8:14 PM

What-A-Mess

I will agree with the Time Dimension theory although it is a theory that exists only in the mind of the perceiver. Jul 09 06, 10:24 PM

davejacobs

We all live in at least four dimensions, being at a given place at a given time. This has been known for ever. It's the existence of five or more dimensions that is in the realm of higher mathematics. Jul 10 06, 1:34 PM

What-A-Mess

My point is that "TIME" is a concept that has no true existance. Jul 10 06, 1:55 PM

Baloo55th

As Dave points out, it's a question of place and time. You can have many objects at a particular place co-ordinate - but they must all be there at different times. At the same point in time, they must be at different places. The main difference between time and the three normal space dimensions is that you can reverse in a spatial sense, but not in time. At least, not so far as we can see at the moment. Jul 10 06, 2:45 PM

Baloo55th

Try telling a parking warden (or prison warder, even...) that time has no real existence.... Jul 10 06, 3:29 PM