One Dimension?

Question

Have you ever thought being that we leave in a three dimensional, it seems next to impossible to imagine one dimension.

We can think on two dimensional terms, like a picture on the television or a picture printed in a book. Even a picture, not a print, painted in a canvas is not truly two dimensional seeing that the paint itself have some dimension to it , so technically it's three dimensions, even if not perceived by the human eye.

What really is interesting is the concept of one dimension. It usually is represented by a line. But, wouldn't this line have to be infinitesimally small as not to have two dimensions. Being that a line no matter how small still has two dimensions, the thickness of the line. Even if it is too small for the eye to see, there has to be two dimensions to it, if it is a line.

So, do you think that one dimension can really exist in a three dimensional world or do you think it just exists as a theoretical concept?

cadetkilburn, I know pictures two dimensional, you misunderstood me, I was not talking about TV or printed pictures, I was talking about on a physical canvas with physical paint actually having three dimensions in reality.

Answer 1

Read the excellent short book entitled "Flatland". It is an eyeopener and an easy read. Your question is answered far better in this classic than anyone can answer it in this forum.

Answer 2

Well of course you can postulate a one-dimensional universe, which would be like a line. But that would be much different from the one we live in. To be truly one-dimensional, it couldn't have an infinitessemal width, it would have to have no width whatsoever.

The idea of a very small, almost un-measurable dimension is an interesting one. We can't rule out the possibility that in addition to the regular 3+1 dimensions of space and time, there could be extra dimensions that are just so small we haven't noticed them. Lots of theories use that idea as a take-off point.

Answer 3

There is a famous book "Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions" written in 1884 by Edwin Abbott Abbott, about a Square living in Flatland (2 dimensions) and visiting Lineland (one dimension). It is short and entertaining, in a Victorian sort of way.

Answer 4

One dimension does exist. It's called a line.

Oh, and pictures ARE two dimensional, but some of them give the illusion of being three diminsional. Just because a magician gives the illusion of cutting a woman in half doesn't mean she's really cut in half.

Answer 5

Yes, one dimension is hard to imagine... I don't know if any living thing could exist in one dimension... but, picture this, a eucharyote, nearly one dimensional living with something, some other creature, a one dimensional being... like a light wave, and living from it... never know, then life would have fewer of these questions, huh? great question. thanks.

Answer 6

A physical universe requires SPACE and space cannot exist without at least three dimensions., so why worry about it?

Answer 7

What really is interesting to me is the fourth dimension

Answer 8

one dimension is easy

pretend you stand on a straight line and you only look forward

I'd say life itself is one dimension. you only look/go forward and you don't look back.

Answer 9

hmmm, there's a line there. Only in theoretical concept.

Answer 10

I believe it is just a theoretical concept.