Can someone explain what the 4th Dimension is?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the concept of the fourth dimension, particularly in relation to time and its implications in physics. Participants explore various interpretations and analogies to explain the fourth dimension, touching on theoretical and conceptual aspects.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant cites Einstein's view that the fourth dimension is time, using an analogy involving directions that incorporates time as a coordinate.
  • Another participant relates the fourth dimension to the expansion of the universe, suggesting that knowing when to look for a star is essential, as it may not always be in the same position.
  • A different perspective defines a "dimension" as a parameter that specifies events in physics, where the first three dimensions indicate position and the fourth indicates time.
  • Another participant emphasizes the necessity of including time to accurately describe movement between two points, asserting that without it, one cannot definitively state a position.
  • One participant challenges the discussion by suggesting that the fourth dimension should be considered in a broader context, implying that it activates all previous dimensions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various interpretations of the fourth dimension, particularly regarding its relationship to time. There is no consensus on a singular definition or understanding, and multiple competing views remain present in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some statements rely on specific interpretations of dimensions and may depend on the definitions used. The discussion does not resolve the broader implications of the fourth dimension beyond the immediate context provided.

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Can someone explain what the 4th Dimension is?
 
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einstein stated that the 4th dimension is time, for example; if you wish to meet somebody some were you would give him directions as follows.
head north 100miles( 1st dimension) turn right and travel 2 miles(2nd dimension)
go up the flight of stairs to the top (3rd dimension) and meet me at 4 oclock(4th dimension).
This is only an anology and probably is not the best example
other people may have different views but i hope it helps
 
I always think of it like this. The universe is expanding, right? So if you wanted to tell me where to find some distant star you would have to tell me where to look (3 dimensions) and when (4th dimension) cos it aint always going to be there. Kind of hard to express but I hope this helps.
 
A "dimension" is simply a number used to specifiy something of importance. Physics deals with "events", things that happen at a particular position at a particular time. The first three dimensions give the position, the fourth the time.
 
Dimensions can be thought of some kind of parameter. For example, let's say you are walking from A to B. In 3D, we can only describe where you are, but in this case, you might be in A, B, or in between, if we don't mention the time. But, if we mention a certain time, let's say time 0(ie. when you first started walking), we will know that you are at A for sure, since you started there.
 
It is a special case only. Look more widely, guys.
In the general case, (n+1) dimension activates all previous (n) dimensions.


Michael
 

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