How can extra dimensions be rolled up into every point in 3d space if a point is not a place or thing at all?

Question

Many books and articles I have read try to describe the extra 6 curled up dimensions in string theory as "attached" or "existing on" every point in 3d space. The last time I read this was "the elegant universe" by Brian Greene. Well, if a point is merely a piece of information that is not actually a place or tangible thing, then how can dimensions exist on, near or within something that isn't there to begin with? BRAIN OVERLOAD

Answer 1

To understand this, let's consider a simpler example which has the advantage of being able to be visualized. Imagine an extremely long drinking straw that is extremely narrow, let's say a millionth of an inch across. If you were a long but extremely thin ant that crawled along the straw lengthwise, you would be completely unaware of the dimension that went around the tiny perimeter of the straw, as far as you could tell your straw world would be 1-dimensional. Each "point" on your "1-dimensional" world would actually have a tiny extra dimension attached to it, rolled up in a tiny circle. In the same way each point in our "3-dimensional" space has a tiny 6-dimensional hypersphere attached to it, but it is so tiny we can't detect it directly. Our world thus looks 3-dimensional even though it may be 9-dimensional: 3 "big" dimensions and 6 "tiny" dimensions.

Answer 2

I certainly have had the comparable question on my ideas for some weeks now. I advise I went to extreme college to flow to varsity and then what to flow to artwork...next. what's the factor? I do the comparable element on a daily basis regularly..i'm not a considerable individual. i'm not something overally particular.. yet they humorous element is that i know i'm going to stand up the following day and do the comparable element. you know why given that's existence... I advise i'm residing for something. i don't know what yet i know that I would desire to evoke at 5am and artwork and visit college via fact i'm waiting. i think of that all people has that feeling that they have got been meant to be right here and that i think of so. in case you think of roughly it the probabilities of you being born in any respect have been a million to a minimum of one... so right here you're. there's a reason which you stay.. as a result their is a meaning to existence in view which you're making that meaning your self.. I asked my brother the comparable question and he in my opinion thinks that each and every thing he does is almost a chain reaction. he's considerable and his existence has meaning by ability of merely being there. on a daily basis you work together with human beings and regardless of if that's in basic terms a grin.. it concerns given that individual you smiled too would carry the door open to three else and in turn that individual .. etc etc.. residing is a present :) we've the difficult situations so we are in a position to relish the coolest we cry so we are in a position to grin or maybe even with the incontrovertible fact that the sky would turn gray the rain will continuously go away the solar shall then pop out to stay in no way concern what existence is approximately via fact it shall continuously be like the solar and moon...we see that's in no way get it... and you know what that's merely ok..

Answer 3

Think of it as a discription of where it's at in an area of nothing with you as an outside observer ......(I'm not a fan of string theory either but it's the prevelant theory right now....)

Answer 4

These dimensions may not be spatial but may refer to other quantities.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_theory#Extra_dimensions
Brane overload?

Answer 5

You just have to accept it. Quantum physics is not for the feint-hearted.

Answer 6

Pick a point and put a loop on it. That's what they're talking about....