Can you clerify this?
2007-07-20 16:41:24 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Actually nrao_kid, I heard Einstein believed this theory.... my source is the Discovery Channel....
2007-07-20 16:46:46 · update #1
I believe the bow-tie that you are referring to is called a 'toroid'.
To clarify, first of all, a torus is the mathematical equivalent of a donut shape. A toroid appears to be a twisted torus however in reality the surface of a toroid will appear to use to be a torus. A little confusing but please bear with me.
The toroid however is not one of the accepted mainstream theories for the shape of the universe. The two main accepted theories are based on local geometry and global geometry, which i believe was mentioned in one of the answers as being planet shaped and flattened at the poles.
In global geometry the universe has one of three shapes:
- A sphere
- A flat plane
- A hyperbole (flat plane whose edges fold in on each other) (also known as the saddle shape to which others are referring
Another fact that needs to be taken into account is 'expansion' of the universe. Overall there is no physical way currently known that will let us determine the shape of the universe so all current proposed shapes are just theoretical.
2007-07-20 17:02:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I've heard saddle-shaped, but never personally heard the bow-tie analogy.
The latest research shows clearly (give our current data) that the universe is basically flat. It is not closed, it is open, so you would NOT end up where you started if u went in 1 direction, you would just keep going.
2007-07-21 09:22:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Einstein said it was shaped like a saddle,I'm sure he changed his mind after he thought about it.
The universe expands radially so it must be a sphere.
There is no force that would direct it's expansion any other way.
2007-07-21 08:40:03 · answer #3 · answered by Billy Butthead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nobody knows what the shape of the universe is. There are hypothesis that it might be spherical, donut-shaped, saddle-shaped, or it could be like a pac-man screen where it loops from one side to the next.
2007-07-20 23:45:03 · answer #4 · answered by Mickey Mouse Spears 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think anyone can know that for sure...no matter what scientists say, there are just SOME things that cannot be explained...ya know?
2007-07-21 00:16:16 · answer #5 · answered by kaizoku 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not true. It is a globe and sligtly flattened at the poles.
2007-07-20 23:44:08 · answer #6 · answered by notyou311 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I can't clarify something that was arbitrarily MADE UP. And you believe it. Where's your source? "YouTube"???
2007-07-20 23:44:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋