it is regarding space
2006-08-25 06:37:03 · 12 answers · asked by kranthi 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
Time is considered a 4th dimension. An object has length, breadth, and depth, and it also occupies its space for a certain amount of time.
2006-08-25 06:41:11 · answer #1 · answered by jxt299 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Time is NOT the 4th dimension without clarification - imagine that you live in a 2 dimensional world ( flat space) the 3rd dimension would then be time. Moving from two to three dimensions would then make the 4 dimension time as time.
4th dimension has been glorified as time because of movies and what not. But think about what you are calling a dimension. Time is linear and non-tranversable. You can not (currently) travel forward or backward in time.
The opposite does occur, you can describe time as "A" fourth dimension because it can designate location with your other three coordinates. Example. You are to be at the corner or Crazy St. and Loon Ave. (X, Y) on the 30th Floor (Z) at 12:01 PM. (T or 4th dimension)
You have therefore cast time as a forth dimension. However, In a 4-dimensional world, time is not the fourth dimension - but can rather be cast as the fifth.
So your question requires clarification as to the relative nature of the other dimensions.
2006-08-25 14:00:18 · answer #2 · answered by Orlando_KIA 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The 4th spatial dimension is orthogonal to the other three spatial dimensions that we are familiar with. Since we are 3 dimensional beings living in a 3 dimensional world, we have an intuitive understanding of what the 3 spatial dimensions are: up/down, left/right, and forward/backward. So where is this 4th spatial dimension? The problem is of course we can not point to it, because we are stuck in the 3-d world.
The best way to describe the 4th dimension is by the following analogy: imagine that we are 2-dimensional beings living in a 2-d world, a flat surface. If someone tells us that there is a 3rd dimension and that it is orthogonal or perpendicular to the flat world we live on, where we can go left/right and backward/forward, we would have to be able to look "up" and pry ourselves out of the 2-d flatland to see this 3rd dimension that is in the up/down direction.
Similarly, this is the case for 4th spatial dimension. We would need to get out of our 3-d world and move "up" into the 4th dimension to see it.
PS - yes time is also called the 4th dimension by Einstein because space and time are vey much interconnected, but time is NOT a 4th spatial dimension. You can only move forward in time, never backwards.
2006-08-25 13:51:49 · answer #3 · answered by PhysicsDude 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2 dimensional world would be a plane like a sheet of paper. A three dimensional world would be a cube or a sphere if you like. A 3 dimensional creature could move past a 2d creature un-noticed.
Dimensions have the characteristic that they are all at 90 degrees to each other. So time really doesn't qualify as its own dimension. It is just a parameter. After all you are free to travel in three dimensions but you can't travel on your own through time you are swept along with it, like flotsam.
2006-08-25 13:54:46 · answer #4 · answered by Roadkill 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dimensions in physics is just another way of saying parameter.
For example the following metric used in General relativity has four dimensions (parameters that can change)
dx2+dy2+dz2-C2dt2=constant
Thus in this case 4 parameters (dimensions) can change thier values dx, dy, dz, and dt
Veloxicty generally have three dvx, dvy, and dvz,..etc...
Thus don't confuse discussion of 4th, 5th, 6th dimensions as having anything to do with spatial dimensions, tehy are just extra parameters in a math formula.
Hope that helps
JPK
2006-08-25 13:53:36 · answer #5 · answered by Dr JPK 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Time and space are connected, as first theorized by Einstein. Essentially, Einstein said that the speed of light is the true constant, regardless of how fast you are moving, light always moves at the same speed. For this to be true, it means that depending on your speed, time has to progress at different rates. Therefore, time and space are all related and the four dimensions should be thought of together.
2006-08-25 13:41:56 · answer #6 · answered by Steve 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The 4th dimension is time. In spacae travel at the speed of light, a person does not age. When they return, they are not aged and the people they left are.
2006-08-25 14:30:05 · answer #7 · answered by science teacher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, are you people over thinking this.
Time is indeed the 4th dimension but think of it like this. If you want to meet someone downtown then what do you have to agree on? You have to agree on how far north/south. Let's call that length. You have to agree on how far east/west. Let's call that width. You have to agree on what floor of the building at that location. Let's call that height. You might think that's it. But, when do you meet? You have to be there at the same time.
2006-08-25 15:25:09 · answer #8 · answered by Oh Boy! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Math there is no mystery about fourth dimension.
If you are working with a function of one variable like y=3x, then you get points in two dimensions: (1,3) (5,15) ... and so on
If you are working with function of two variables like z= x+y, then you get points in three dimensions: (1,2,3) (5,4,9)... and so on
If you are working with functions of three variables like
w = x^2 + y^2 + z^2, then you get points in fourth dimension:
(1,1,1,3) (2,3,5,38) (3,0,-1,10)
Note: in the points the first number as the entries values and the last one is the output.
No mystery.
2006-08-25 14:06:41 · answer #9 · answered by vahucel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does not regard space. It is TIME. do you really want someone to explain time to you?
2006-08-25 19:27:14 · answer #10 · answered by idiot detector 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋