Understanding How a Tesseract Works for Travel: Theories, Formulas, and More

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter marlo
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Tesseract Works
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Tesseracts, also known as "4-D cubes," are geometric shapes that theoretically allow for travel beyond conventional three-dimensional space. The concept suggests that if one could navigate the fourth dimension, it would enable movement without traversing through time and space as understood in three dimensions. This idea aligns with the notion of "wrinkling" the space-time continuum, similar to the concepts presented in Madeline L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time," where travel is achieved by bending space to shorten distances. The discussion highlights the potential implications of tesseracts in theoretical travel and their relationship to modern interpretations of wormholes.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of geometric shapes, specifically tesseracts and their properties.
  • Familiarity with the concept of dimensions beyond the third.
  • Knowledge of the space-time continuum and its theoretical implications.
  • Awareness of literary references, particularly Madeline L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time."
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mathematical properties of tesseracts and their geometric significance.
  • Explore theories on higher dimensions and their implications for physics.
  • Study the concept of wormholes and their relationship to tesseracts in modern physics.
  • Read "A Wrinkle in Time" to understand its portrayal of space-time travel.
USEFUL FOR

The discussion is beneficial for theoretical physicists, science fiction enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the intersection of geometry and advanced travel concepts.

marlo
could anyone explain to me how a tesseract works as far as travel is concerned? are there any articles, theories, or better yet, any formulas associated with this concept? i'd love to hear them.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Welcome to the Forums Marlo!

Tesseracts are simply geometric shapes, and their importance to travel is not a direct relationship. They are often reffered to as a "4-D Cube"; just as a square has two lines that come together at each corner, each at 90o to the other, and a cube has three lines in that same relationship, a tesseract has a fourth line at its corner which is at right-angle to the other three.

The important thing to travel would be that, since we can logically deduce the existence of such a shape (even though we can't see it or even "picture" it), it is rational to state that that "fuorth line" does exist, and the direction in which it points is one not visible, nor even "envisionable" to us 3-D critters. If we could find a way to point ourselves in that direction, we could take a trip without moving through the space (and therefore the time) with which we are familliar. This would certainly put a new "Wrinkle" on travel!

(BTW; Say 'hi' to Aunt Beast for me, wouldya?)
 
You must be a Madeline L'Engle fan... and I must be a mean jerk who says jerky things.

eNtRopY
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Any links about this? Seems interesting.
 
Did Madeline L'Engle intend tesseracts for what we call "wormholes" today?
 
Originally posted by Loren Booda
Did Madeline L'Engle intend tesseracts for what we call "wormholes" today?

I honestly haven't read A Wrinkle in Time since the fourth grade... and that was like 17 years ago... Jeez I'm old.

Anyway, I don't remember exactly how time travel was possible in that book, but I do remember it involved wrinkling the space-time continuum so that a time traveller wouldn't have to take the long route. I remember the analogy given was wrinkling a piece of fabric so that an ant could walk from end-to-end without having to traverse the middle.

eNtRopY
 
"Wrinkles" sound like branes; the parallel dimensionality of the latter short-circuits E-M space through gravity.
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Relationship between Concentration of a Force and Energy Density
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Undergrad Same old question, I still don't get it: E=1/2mv^2 - more E with V?
  • · Replies 41 ·
2
Replies
41
Views
4K
Graduate Please Explain Elementary Physics Elevator Question
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
864
High School New idea about wave-particle duality - looking for feedback/criticism
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
627
Graduate Exactly how do pressure waves work at the molecular level?
  • · Replies 49 ·
2
Replies
49
Views
5K
Undergrad Understanding Bolted Joints: Shigley's Explanation & Real-Life Testing
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
Undergrad Gyroscopic precession of a spin-stabilized bullet
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K
Plot a stereographic hypercube in a Mac's Grapher.app?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Do Electrons Travel from the Positive to the Negative Terminal in a Battery?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
Undergrad Drag equation - relative flow velocity
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
4K