Can someone please explain the finer points of the Einstein Rosen bridge?

Question

I understand that it is a wormhole between two layers of space and time. A shortcut from one place to the other that is traversable. But how could this be a valid solution in general relativity?

Answer 1

I would need to know how much you know about it to begin, because is a little complicated. I'm a physicist and there's a lot of previous information before to try to understand this things.

Answer 2

We have to start with what Einstein showed us is the true nature of gravity. He theorized, and it's been proven, that gravity is actually a bending or distortion of the "fabric" of space caused by the presence of mass. Imagine a thin rubber sheet with a bowling ball resting on it. Where the bowling ball sits the sheet will be distorted from its usual flatness. That dimple (..gravity..) in the sheet (..space..) is caused by the presence of the ball (..mass..) If you wanted climb up the slope of the dimple and return to flat space you'd have to expend energy. Now imagine a bowling ball (..mass..) so immense that the dimple (..gravity..) would have a slope so steep that nothing, not even light, would have enough energy to climb out. Hence the name "black hole."

Physicists have applied some of Einstein's relativity equations to the interior of black holes and discovered mathematical solutions that describe the phenomenon known as Einstein-Rosen bridges, or as they're more commonly known "worm holes." These are purely theoretical in nature, but if they existed in reality would provide the means to move from one point in the universe to another without having to traverse the total physical distance between them. You can get an idea of this effect by placing two dots near the edges of a piece of paper. The physical distance might measure three or four inches, but if you fold the paper in the right way with the dots opposite each other, you can see that the distance between the two dots is considerably less--a short cut!

You may get some answers later on that describe Einstein-Rosen bridges as the means to travel faster than the speed of light. Don't swallow that nonsense because even though you can travel from 'A' to 'B' in less time, you're not traveling faster than light, just taking a shorter route.

Answer 3

Basically, this is a form of wormhole, which could theoretically allow travel between two points in a way that would bypass the "normal" path through space.
I don't think there's any point in either copying a load of text or trying to re-word an existing description, so I'd simply recommend that you have a look at the link below. Have fun!

Answer 4

Uhhh, actually the bridge would not be able to be traversed becuase there would be a very, very strong gravational field present to cause the "wormhole".

Getting past that when the bridge would narrow down to that point in the middle might cause a bit of a problem. I would probabaly be easier to go around.

Answer 5

Stephen Hawking is good at breaking such things down into plain English. I'd try his site...