Should the universe's definition include higher spatial dimensions?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter epkid08
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Dimensions Universe
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the definition of the universe concerning spatial dimensions, specifically whether it should include higher spatial dimensions. Participants argue that while some models propose more than three spatial dimensions, there is no definitive scientific advantage to these models. The consensus is that gravity is not caused by the universe's expansion; rather, it would still exist even if the universe were contracting. Additionally, the shortest distance between two points is not universally defined as a hyperbolic curve, as it depends on the specific geometry of the space considered.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of cosmology and its mathematical models
  • Familiarity with spatial dimensions and their implications in physics
  • Knowledge of gravity and its relationship with the universe's expansion
  • Basic concepts of geometry in 3D and 4D spacetime
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of higher spatial dimensions in theoretical physics
  • Study the standard cosmology model and its predictions regarding universe expansion
  • Explore the geometry of spacetime in both 3D and 4D contexts
  • Examine the relationship between gravity and the expansion or contraction of the universe
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, cosmologists, and students of theoretical physics interested in the nature of the universe and the implications of spatial dimensions on gravitational phenomena.

epkid08
Messages
264
Reaction score
1
What is the true definition of our universe in terms of spatial dimensions? Should the definition of universe include higher spatial dimensions?

Is the expansion of our universe causing gravity; if our universe wasn't expanding, would we have the natural phenomenon of gravity?

Is the shortest distance between two points in our universe a hyperbolic curve?
 
Space news on Phys.org
epkid08 said:
What is the true definition of our universe in terms of spatial dimensions?
I don't know of any scientific reason to say the universe need more than 3 spatial dimensions.
An example of a recent quantum spacetime model that is 3D spatially is in the Loll SciAm article in my sig.
Some models use more than 3 spatial, and some models do not. Those using extra spatial dimensionality do not have a clear advantage.

Should the definition of universe include higher spatial dimensions?

Who is to say? The object of cosmology is to fit math models to the data and get a model you can predict with. It is not intended to say what really "is", it is intended to predict as precisely as possible with the model that is as simple as possible.

Is the expansion of our universe causing gravity; if our universe wasn't expanding, would we have the natural phenomenon of gravity?

No gravity is not caused by expansion. If our universe were contracting instead of expanding, then Yes we would still experience gravity as usual.

the standard cosmology model would allow a universe to be contracting, but that does not fit the data. Given the observed data, the model does not predict that the universe will ever start to contract.
Is the shortest distance between two points in our universe a hyperbolic curve?
The geometry of 3D space can be quite irregular, likewise 4D spacetime. so one cannot say in advance some kind of curve will always work out to be the shortest. If you specify in advance some fixed geometry which space must have, like the "flat" vanilla space of Special Relativity (in which there is no gravity to bend it) or some curved but very uniform example, then you can talk about some kind of curve that would be the shortest. Otherwise I think not.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 47 ·
2
Replies
47
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
5K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
8K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
4K