3 ms·
The root of the problem is that most people can't see the difference between 4D space and 3D spacetime. 3D spacetime behaves mathematically exactly the same as
by henrikschroder 16y ago
The root of the problem is that most people can't see the difference between 4D space and 3D spacetime.
3D spacetime behaves mathematically exactly the same as 4D space, it is a construct to make it easier to analyze and do physics calculations of 3D objects over time, by setting time as the 4th dimension, thereby giving every object a position in time as well.
But the visualization is completely different, and the things you can do are completely different. If I have a 3D left-hand glove in a 4D space, I can "turn" it in the 4th dimension and end up with a right-hand glove. But if I have the same glove in spacetime, it doesn't matter how much I wait around (i.e. move in the 4th dimension), my left-hand glove will never turn into a right-hand glove.