2007-12-10 05:46:32 · 6 answers · asked by Intrigue 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
From the latest observations of WMAP, it would appear that the universe is infinite in spatial extent. Using this hypothesis solves many problems. For example, an infinite universe can expand without needing to expand 'into' anything; it expands into itself. Under this hypothesis, there is no "other side" as the universe is infinite (no end, no edge, no wall...).
In 4 dimensions, space-time appears curved and seems to have a beginning (14 billion years ago). Is it a hypersphere wrapped around a point that does not belong to the 3-dimensions that we know and love? As skymaster would say, that is just some mathematical gimmickry used to structure the equations that help us explain the expansion of the universe.
In 4-D, then, if the universe is a 3-D hypersphere around an outside point, then one one side we have the past universe and on the other we have the future universe.
If you believe that time is quantized (comes in chunks instead of being purely continuous), then someone who sees the entire hyperuniverse in one glance (from the start to the finish, with all times being simultaneous) would see a 4-D equivalent of an onion: Each layer representing a stage of the universe throughout its existence.
If time is quantized, it would appear that the unit of time is equal to or smaller than what is called Planck's time (a duration of approximately 5x10^-44 sec.)
So, on one side is the previous quantum of time; on the other side is the upcoming quantum of time. We live by moving from one layer to the next.
Of course, you only asked for an hypothesis.
2007-12-10 06:11:56 · answer #1 · answered by Raymond 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a shape which does not have an "other side". People not only have a good hypothesis, but this has all been nailed down mathematically decades ago. You can read up on it. Plenty of good text books out there. Just don't expect comics, I believe that four-dimensional flat relativity requires at least five or six-dimensional flat spaces for embeddings and curved space-time might require up to ten.
I believe I have seen a "comprehensive" analysis of embeddings of flat Minkowski-spaces in globally flat vector spaces in
Spivak, "A Comprehensive Introduction to Differential Geometry". The important corollaries and proofs might be in Volume V, chapter 11 (I don't have the books, just looking at the contents)
You can buy it here
http://www.mathpop.com/bookhtms/dg.htm
It's an absolutely stunning work on differential geometry in FIVE thick volumes. If you ever want to see a book that makes your head spin, these ones will.
Good Luck!
2007-12-10 06:14:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The universe does not have a shape that is describeable except in the cases of some mathematical wizardry and what is on the other side is anybody's guess. You should direct this question to Cambrige University for the attention of Stephen Hawkin.
2007-12-10 05:56:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is no "other side." The universe is all that there is, and it is uniformly filled with matter everywhere in space.
As far as shape is concerned, it is either closed (finite in size but unbounded, so that you could circumnavigate it, and triangles have more than 180 degrees in them), open (infinite in size and triangles have less than 180 degrees in them), or flat (infinite in size and triangles have exactly 180 degrees in them). We don't know which it is, but it's pretty darned close to flat.
2007-12-10 06:04:00 · answer #4 · answered by ZikZak 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
spherical - as the universe is expanding into a total vacuum from a single point explosion (the Big Bang) one would expect the Universe to be in the shape of an expanding sphere - beyond which is absolutely nothing
2007-12-10 05:51:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
the other side of what?
2007-12-10 05:59:25 · answer #6 · answered by Faesson 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋