Dismiss Notice
Join Physics Forums Today!
The friendliest, high quality science and math community on the planet! Everyone who loves science is here!

The two dimensional regular polygons.

  1. Jun 11, 2008 #1

    Jackrell

    User Avatar

    The two dimensional regular polygon series, the triangle, square, square, pentagon etc. is infinite. If for some reason, it was finite, what would our universe become? especially the dimensions of length and breadth.
     
    Jackrell, Jun 11, 2008
  2. jcsd
    Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories on Phys.org
  3. Jun 11, 2008 #2

    mathman

    User Avatar
    Science Advisor
    Gold Member

    Your first sentence is in the realm of mathematics. The question is in the realm of physics. I don't see any real connection.
     
    mathman, Jun 11, 2008
  4. Jun 14, 2008 #3

    Jackrell

    User Avatar

    I guess my question should be - Why are the dimensions of length and breadth continuous?"
     
    Jackrell, Jun 14, 2008
  5. Jun 14, 2008 #4

    out of whack

    User Avatar

    You assume that space is physically continuous. This is not a given. There are quantum space-time theories as well as continuous space-time theories. Math can handle both.
     
    out of whack, Jun 14, 2008
  6. Jun 14, 2008 #5

    Kenny_L

    User Avatar

    It's because that's part of the principle and concepts of geometry.
     
    Kenny_L, Jun 14, 2008
  7. Jun 15, 2008 #6

    Jackrell

    User Avatar

    That is exactly my point. if geometry were changed so that the number of regular polygons was finite, is there any way to know what the result would be?
     
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2008
    Jackrell, Jun 15, 2008
  8. Jun 15, 2008 #7

    out of whack

    User Avatar

    It seems that you would have a limited form of geometry that cannot represent certain shapes. If you limit the number of regular polygons to only those with 3 and 4 sides then you cannot represent a pentagon and beyond. But what would be the point of that?
     
    out of whack, Jun 15, 2008
  9. Jun 15, 2008 #8

    Kenny_L

    User Avatar

    The result would be that you will have a limit on the number of sides that a polygon can have. And whatever results from that is also included in that result.
     
    Kenny_L, Jun 15, 2008
Know someone interested in this topic? Share this thread via Reddit, Google+, Twitter, or Facebook




Similar Discussions: The two dimensional regular polygons.

  1. A pair of two-dimensional supercompressed circles (Replies: 7)

  2. A Two-Dimensional Universe (Replies: 3)

  3. Is it safe to take medication at regular intervals? (Replies: 6)

  4. Previous regular forum members (Replies: 7)

Loading...