With the Earth turning each day, and rotating around the Sun ... and the Galaxy expanding ... is it ever possible to be in the same place twice?
2006-09-26 16:54:53 · 13 answers · asked by Giggly Giraffe 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
No, never.
Location is not merely measured in an XYZ plane, that would just measure space. The universe is also measured in time. Even if you mathmatically used yourself as the "spot" you are not the same in a measurable time span.
2006-09-26 18:15:36 · answer #1 · answered by escobacabeza 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Since there is no scientifically accepted center of the universe, all measurements are relative. I can prove that the entire universe revolves around me - along with equations of motion for the entire universe that back this theory up. True, they would be mind-numbingly complicated things, but mathematically they would all be transformations of the equations of motion we already use.
So, if I define the "spot" as being myself, the answer is "yes, I'm ALWAYS in the same spot." If I define the "spot" as being relative to the Sun, or the Galaxy, or some other portion of the Universe, the answer is "not so much."
2006-09-27 00:44:29 · answer #2 · answered by jbtascam 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have often pondered this, and the answer as far as I can tell, as no one can truly test it, is no. The fact is that every time the Earth makes a trip around the Sun it gets closer, and even if ti was in the same exact position one year to the next at the same time of that year, and you were standing in that same spot relative to the planet, you would be closer to the Sun.
2006-09-26 23:59:54 · answer #3 · answered by shadowcockindustries 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are very correct in your observation "the same place" isn't really the same place. Whether or not we can ever be in the same place or not depends on whether or not there is a none moving point to measure this from. You've probably come to realize the problem in defining this point. I'd have to say that there is a very small, almost negligable likelyhood of ever being in the same place twice.....and if you could ever be in the same place twice, it would probably be under the condition that you are not in the same state both times.
2006-09-27 05:24:28 · answer #4 · answered by minuteblue 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Galaxy does expand and move but the universe always revolves around me so I am always in the same place.
Did you know that if you release a dime in the air when it perfectly level and motionless it will not fall?
2006-09-27 16:15:48 · answer #5 · answered by Eric Inri 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who cares? Because in this Universe it is all open space in a Giant World if you could call it that. That's like saying "is it possible to drive over a crack on the Freeway that I hardly ever travel on?" Just a tottally Moronic and Irrelevant question.
2006-09-27 00:43:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same spot in relation to what? There's no absolute in space. There's only relative position. And you always move through spacetime at the speed of light, mostly though time, which is roughly one second for you during every second that passes for your surroundings.
2006-09-27 05:39:39 · answer #7 · answered by David S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
where a place happens to is only where it is compared to everything else. you can only be in the same place twice if "everything else" you are comparing it to hasnt moved
2006-09-27 21:47:48 · answer #8 · answered by hondacobra 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes ask the guy who's been hit by lightining several times and lived to tell about it
2006-09-27 00:04:18 · answer #9 · answered by CWB 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the odds are astronomically against it, but it is possible yes, did i mention the nearly infinitely impossible odds>?
2006-09-27 00:02:51 · answer #10 · answered by Hillary Dillary 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋