Space-Time Fabric: Is There Anything Beyond?

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of space-time and the comparison to a piece of fabric or an inflating balloon. There is a debate about whether this visual aid is accurate, as some scientists suggest that space-time is actually a fluid. The conversation concludes by explaining that the "fabric of spacetime" is simply a tool to help visualize the complex concept of four dimensional curved manifolds.
  • #1
M Telepathic
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If space-time looks like a piece of fabric (or an inflating balloon, in the inflation analogy) what is on the other side of the fabric?
Or does space-time not look like a piece of fabric at all...? Like some scientists are suggesting that it is a fluid...?
 
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  • #2
The "fabric of spacetime" is a visual aid, nothing more. It's just that people have a hard time visualizing four dimensional curved manifolds, so it helps to break things down a little.

Imagine that you lived in a purely three dimensional cartesian space, such as [itex]R_3[/itex], and one day someone asked you what was on the other side. It's not really a question you can answer.
 

1. What is space-time fabric?

Space-time fabric is a concept that combines the three dimensions of space and the one dimension of time into a four-dimensional continuum. It is a way of understanding how objects and events are interconnected in the universe.

2. Is there any evidence for the existence of space-time fabric?

Yes, there is strong evidence for the existence of space-time fabric. The theory of relativity, proposed by Albert Einstein, has been extensively tested and has been shown to accurately describe the behavior of objects in space and time. Additionally, gravitational lensing, the bending of light by massive objects, is another piece of evidence for the existence of space-time fabric.

3. Can anything exist beyond space-time fabric?

This is a difficult question to answer definitively as our understanding of the universe is constantly evolving. However, based on current theories and evidence, it is believed that nothing can exist outside of space-time fabric. The fabric is considered to be the fundamental structure of the universe and everything within it.

4. How does space-time fabric relate to the Big Bang theory?

The Big Bang theory is one explanation for the origins of the universe. According to this theory, the universe began as a singularity and then rapidly expanded, creating space and time. The space-time fabric is the framework in which this expansion occurred and continues to shape the behavior of objects in the universe.

5. Is space-time fabric the same as a black hole?

No, space-time fabric and black holes are not the same thing. Black holes are regions of space where the gravitational pull is so strong that even light cannot escape. The space-time fabric is the underlying structure of the universe, whereas a black hole is a specific object within this fabric with intense gravitational forces.

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