How would a 4th Dimensional Object Move?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the movement of a four-dimensional object, specifically a tesseract, within the context of four-dimensional spacetime. Participants explore theoretical implications and interpretations of motion in higher dimensions, particularly in relation to physics concepts such as world lines and Minkowski spacetime.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how a tesseract would move in the dimension of time, not in the spatial dimensions of x, y, or z.
  • Another participant asserts that a 4D object is a fixed figure in 4D space, analogous to how a triangle is fixed in 2D space.
  • A different viewpoint suggests that in the context of spacetime, a path in 4D is represented by a world line, which exists rather than moves, although some authors may describe movement along a world line for practical reasons.
  • Further elaboration indicates that while world lines do not move, they can indicate relative velocity based on their slope in a Minkowski spacetime diagram, and introduces the concept of "hyper-velocity" in relation to particle behavior in quantum mechanics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of movement for a 4D object, with some asserting it is fixed while others explore the implications of motion in the context of spacetime. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

Participants rely on various interpretations of motion and existence in higher dimensions, with some assumptions about the definitions of movement and the nature of spacetime not fully articulated.

Blop
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I want to know how a 4D object, (specifically a tesseract) would move in the space of t, not x, y or z.
 
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It doesn't. A 4D object is a fixed figure in a 4D space. Just like a given triangle is a fixed figure on a 2D sheet of paper.
 
A path in 4D, and I'm assuming you're referring to Spacetime not a Euclidean space, is a world line. So it doesn't move it exists. Some authors do refer to things moving along a world line but I think this is for practicality.

Cheers
 
Good point, cosmik debris. The object, continuum and "motion" if not given, will be presumed to be particles (or composites) from the Standard Model, 4D of spacetime (3+1) and velocity in distance/time respectively. Worldlines in a Minkowski spacetime diagram don't themselves move but they do indicate relative velocity as the inverse of slope in that reference frame.

One might construe the "movement" of a worldline but it would have to be defined as some kind of hyper-velocity*. I can imagine a use for such a construct in quantum mechanics, as it relates to phenomena where a single particle seems to pass through two slits at once. That is, to ascribe a wave nature to a particle.

*The term "hypervelocity" is however, already in use to indicate those > 3,000 m/sec.
 

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