What Are the Physical Properties of Human-Sized Worm Holes?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the physical properties of human-sized wormholes, specifically addressing misconceptions about their edges. Participants clarify that wormholes do not have edges and are better understood as a four-dimensional continuum rather than a higher-dimensional sphere. The mathematical models of wormholes indicate that they are part of a multiply connected spacetime, which does not conform to common pop science descriptions. The conversation also highlights the need for foundational texts, such as the original paper by Morris & Thorne, for deeper understanding.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of four-dimensional spacetime concepts
  • Familiarity with wormhole theories in physics
  • Knowledge of mathematical models related to general relativity
  • Basic grasp of negative energy requirements for wormhole stabilization
NEXT STEPS
  • Read the original wormhole paper by Morris & Thorne
  • Explore visualizations of wormholes at reputable scientific sources
  • Study the implications of negative energy in theoretical physics
  • Investigate the mathematical models of spacetime and wormholes
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, students of theoretical physics, and anyone interested in advanced concepts of spacetime and wormhole theories.

Unbreakabletoon
Messages
3
Reaction score
1
TL;DR
Worm Hole Theoretical question. Worm hole physical properties.
Hello Everyone in the forum:
I have a theoretical question about Worm Holes. So for the sake of this question let's just assume we have the technology and the power source to fire up a small human size worm hole. My question would be regarding the edge of the worm hole. Would you be able to touch the edge or would the worm hole be more like a fourth dimensional sphere? (since it is connecting space by folding it on a higher dimension). However, if you were able to actually touch the edge would it be solid or would it be infinitely sharp?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Unbreakabletoon said:
My question would be regarding the edge of the worm hole.

The wormhole doesn't have an edge. It blends continuously into the surrounding spacetime.

Unbreakabletoon said:
Would you be able to touch the edge or would the worm hole be more like a fourth dimensional sphere?

Neither.

Unbreakabletoon said:
since it is connecting space by folding it on a higher dimension

This is a common pop science description, but it has nothing whatever to do with actual mathematical models of wormholes. In the actual mathematical models, spacetime is just a 4-dimensional continuum; it's not embedded in anything higher-dimensional. In spacetimes with wormholes, the continuum is multiply connected, but that can be described entirely in terms of properties within the continuum, without having to make use of any embedding in anything higher dimensional.

Unbreakabletoon said:
However, if you were able to actually touch the edge would it be solid or would it be infinitely sharp?

A wormhole would seem to someone traveling through it like empty space, which has neither of these properties.
 
Thank you. Can you recommend any books in the subject? :smile:
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: kent davidge
Unbreakabletoon said:
Can you recommend any books in the subject?

Not books, but the original wormhole paper by Morris & Thorne is worth reading:

http://www.cmp.caltech.edu/refael/league/thorne-morris.pdf
 
  • Informative
Likes   Reactions: Klystron
Thank you very much for your time. I had the feeling most Hollywood movies had this wrong. I started thinking about this and wasn't able to find a specific answer in most articles I read.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
4K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
5K
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
4K