2006-08-28 08:06:00 · 6 answers · asked by goring 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Well, just based on our ability to experience the universe (or at least, our little corner of it) in three dimensions is a pretty good indication that the rest of the universe is also three dimensional (except for the little pockets of n-dimensional space that string theory/M theory depends upon, but we won't go there) If there is a cosmologist or physicist who believes the universe is two-dimensional, I'd love to hear their explanation.
If you're talking about a strictly topological view, however, "flat" refers to a universe that simply expands outwards forever, as opposed to a round universe that curves back upon itself and meets at some point. So in a flat universe, you could set off in some direction and keep going, whereas in a round universe, you could travel a certain distance and after a while, you'd start to see things that look familiar until you suddenly discovered that you've ended up on your own backyard, approaching home from the opposite direction from the one in which you left, even though as far as your instruments are concerned, you didn't go in a circle but in a straight line.
Unfortunately, either is plausible -- you'd have to be able to travel far enough to see whether you do indeed come to someplace that looks like the place equally distant from home but in the opposite direction, or not... but then a critic would ask whether you had travelled far enough to be able to tell. You could only prove it mathematically, not physically, so until someone comes up with a theory that can be proven experimentally, half of your cosmologists will believe in a flat universe and the others in a round one (or some other shape; I've even heard of toroidal space)
2006-08-28 08:30:30 · answer #1 · answered by theyuks 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First, learn cosmology and physics well enough to understand why people would think the universe IS flat.
2006-08-28 15:28:16 · answer #2 · answered by genericman1998 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's self evident, nobody should need convincing. Pluto's orbit alone proves the universe is not flat.
http://www.nasm.si.edu/ceps/etp/pluto/pluto_orbit.html
2006-08-28 15:12:28 · answer #3 · answered by ratboy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
watch the boat comming from horizon. You will know.
2006-08-28 15:13:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why should they need convincing? Duh, the universe is not flat. Is this even a real question? Who lost 5 points for this question
2006-08-28 15:32:49 · answer #5 · answered by Idomybest2help 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your kidding right.
2006-08-28 15:14:33 · answer #6 · answered by flower wanda 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋