Does a Fourth Dimension Beyond Time Exist?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the existence of a fourth dimension beyond the conventional three spatial dimensions, particularly in relation to time and theoretical physics. Participants explore concepts from mathematics, relativity, and philosophical implications of dimensions, as well as hypothetical scenarios involving higher dimensions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether a dimension beyond the third dimension can exist, suggesting that existence requires length, width, and depth.
  • Others argue that time is treated as the fourth dimension in relativity, supported by effects like time dilation, but the existence of additional dimensions remains an open question.
  • A participant mentions that string theory proposes up to 11 dimensions, but notes that this lacks empirical proof.
  • Philosophical arguments are presented, suggesting that for an object to exist, it must have duration in addition to spatial dimensions.
  • One participant describes a hypothetical scenario involving a sphere passing through a two-dimensional world, proposing that it would appear as a series of circles, and extends this idea to a fourth-dimensional sphere interacting with our three-dimensional space.
  • Concerns are raised about the implications of such phenomena, including how mass would behave if a fourth-dimensional object were to interact with our reality.
  • Clarifications are made regarding the nature of dimensionality, with some asserting that dimensions are coordinate systems necessary for describing an object's location in both space and time.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the existence and nature of higher dimensions, with no consensus reached. Some support the idea of time as a fourth dimension, while others question the implications and existence of additional dimensions beyond that.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various theoretical frameworks, including relativity and string theory, but acknowledge the lack of empirical evidence for higher dimensions. There are also discussions about the philosophical implications of existence and dimensionality that remain unresolved.

minase
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Does a dimension other than the third dimension possibly eixist? For some thing to exist doesn't it need thickness width and length?.People say time is the 4<sup>th</sup> dimension is there any kind of proff for it:confused: .
 
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minase said:
Does a dimension other than the third dimension possibly eixist? For some thing to exist doesn't it need thickness width and length?.People say time is the 4<sup>th</sup> dimension is there any kind of proff it:confused: .
higher dimensions are mathematical concepts that don't nessisarily deal with reality. In relativity time is treated as the fourth dimension, this is done because of relativistic effects such as time dialation.

Sometimes in physics the number of free variables is referred to as the dimension, this is different from the number of spatial dimensions, which is, I think, what you are asking about. http://goodmath.blogspot.com/2006/04/dimensions.html" is a good description of higher order dimensions in math

Insofar as wheather there is proof, the proofs of relativity all support the idea of at least 4 dimensions, wheather there are more than that is an open question, string theorests say there are 11, but string theory as of yet has no proof, so no one knows right now.
 
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I heard it was 10.
 
For a phylosophical proof of time as the fourth dimension;
in roder for an object to exist it must have length, width, depth, and[i/] duration. An object that exist for no amount of time does not exist.
 
Speaking of dimensions.. If i take i gigantic sphere.. And passe it thought Flat World.. (A 2D (Two dimensions) world) What would the citizens of Flat World would see?? In my opinion.. They will see a series of circles starting with a dot then goes bigger and bigger and then go smaller again.. to finally dissapear. In 3D, If a sphere from the 4th dimension passe throught our world... We would see series of spheres... I'm I right? But my point is that we already saw this phenomenon in the universe.. Is it possible that ther IS actually a fourth dimension.. ? Not only in Mathematics?
 
people think that dimensions are some weird airy fairy scifi thing but theyre not. its simply a coordinate system to describe an objects location. as objects have a location in time as well as space you need a temporal dimesion.
 
DaxInvader said:
In 3D, If a sphere from the 4th dimension passe through our world... We would see series of spheres... I'm I right? But my point is that we already saw this phenomenon in the universe.

Where/when did we already see this phenomenon?

Note, it would manifest, not simply as a sphere expanding (conventionally it would lose density as it expanded, thus retaining the same mass) but as a sphere mysteriously gaining mass as it expanded, the mass coming from nowhere we can detect.
 
DaveC426913 said:
Where/when did we already see this phenomenon?

I'm sorry I was looking for that phenomenon they talked about on CBC radio. unfortunately I can't find the source so it can't be taken in consideration.

DaveC426913 said:
Note, it would manifest, not simply as a sphere expanding (conventionally it would lose density as it expanded, thus retaining the same mass) but as a sphere mysteriously gaining mass as it expanded, the mass coming from nowhere we can detect.


We would see a sphere expanding and keeping the same mass? So its not just a series of spheres..? But I think your right. Its just like Flat world. The little image shows what I meant about Flat world..



The image has been taken from (http://tetraspace.alkaline.org/page1.htm) Where they explain clearly what would happen if an 4D object passes thought our world (I just found it :biggrin: ) :smile: And form the site point of view, You are right.

Thank you for your time.
 

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No, a normal sphere would expand but keep the same mass (spreading itself out thinner and thinner). A hypersphere would expand and gain mass, and that mass would be coming from nowhere in our plane of existence, so it would appear to be gaining "mass from nowhere".
 
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Ooh.. That does explains some things..
 

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