2006-07-05 12:05:05 · 4 answers · asked by jefftac@rogers.com 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The appropriate distance formula for two points in spacetime looks like
x^2 +y^2 +z^2 -(ct)^2
Where x,y,z, and t are the differences in the different coordinates.
Originally, people didn't like that negative and defined a new coordinate w=ict (where i is the square root of -1) so that the distance became
x^2 +y^2 +z^2 +w^2,
which looks more like the usual distance formula. But, it turns out that the negative is really important and it is better just to stick with it.
2006-07-05 12:32:37 · answer #1 · answered by mathematician 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are mistaken. Einstein didn't calculate the speed of light. Einstein took the measurements and theories of others and put them together in a new way to try to explain how light could behave the way it appeared to behave.
2006-07-05 19:56:13 · answer #2 · answered by Doctor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
square root of minus one does not exist. it is a imaginary number
2006-07-05 20:23:56 · answer #3 · answered by cuckoo meister 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because you cant have a square root of a negative number.
2006-07-05 19:15:28 · answer #4 · answered by lumpydonut21 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋