Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: ijaz on 05/12/2015 04:51:14

Title: How many dimensions do we live in?
Post by: ijaz on 05/12/2015 04:51:14

How many dimensions other than the three which are apparent ,  are hidden ?

Title: Re: How many dimensions do we live in??
Post by: evan_au on 05/12/2015 09:19:09

Serious scientists consider 11 dimensions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduction_to_M-theory) a reasonable number.

Non-serious non-scientists like Douglas Adams, in his book "Mostly Harmless" describes the universe as a Whole Sort of General Mish Mash, with dimension up to at least 22 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Places_in_The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy#Whole_Sort_of_General_Mish_Mash)....

Title: Re: How many dimensions do we live in??
Post by: ijaz on 05/12/2015 09:28:10

In that case if we live in 11D , eight are hidden? How do we determine how many dimensions are hidden /folded?

Title: Re: How many dimensions do we live in??
Post by: evan_au on 05/12/2015 22:15:04

Quote

In that case if we live in 11D , eight are hidden?

I would say that 7 are hidden.

• 2 dimensions of space we can move in any direction with relative ease.
  
• 1 more dimension of space we can move in any direction with difficulty (eg by playing with rockets).
  
• 1 more dimension (time) we experience in one direction only, although in theory we can progress at various rates in this direction by playing with powerful rockets.

Title: Re: How many dimensions do we live in??
Post by: Space Flow on 07/12/2015 07:07:50

I offer an answer to the question in the heading instead of the one in the body of your post.

Quote from: ijaz on 05/12/2015 04:51:14

How many dimensions do we live in??

We live in two dimensions. One of space and one of time.
The space dimension can be described by 3 right angle cartesian coordinate lines that are unbounded.
The time dimension is defined by a 1 direction variable length tensor. (A forward acting arrow that can vary in speed).

Hope that helps.

Title: Re: How many dimensions do we live in??
Post by: ijaz on 07/12/2015 08:01:32

That is understandable. But we also have hidden dimensions , folded on to themselves. How do we determine the hidden dimensions, how do we know there are 7, 8,------ or less. ??

Title: Re: How many dimensions do we live in?
Post by: Space Flow on 07/12/2015 09:27:59

ijaz, here I have to point out that mathematics is a language.
It is the language that best describes the Universe.
As a language it can be used to describe flights of fancy as well.
The method for determining between the two is not up to us. It is up to the Universe.
Observation and experimental evidence is the deciding factor. If a theory is untestable, no matter how elegant the mathematics, then it falls in the flight of fancy category.
Hidden dimensions can neither be proven nor disproven. Neither can God.
I can't believe in either.

Title: Re: How many dimensions do we live in?
Post by: evan_au on 07/12/2015 09:35:02

Quote from: ijaz

we also have hidden dimensions , folded on to themselves

At this point in time, that is an unproven hypothesis. Maybe we do, maybe we don't. We are just waiting for someone to prove it.
We may need to wait a long time (maybe forever).

Quote from: Space Flow

Hidden dimensions can neither be proven nor disproven.

At this point in time, that is also an unproven hypothesis. Maybe we can, maybe we can't. We are just waiting for someone to prove it.
We may need to wait a long time (maybe forever).