Are all dimensions created equal?

[lindagarrette]

The 11 dimensions you refer to are the dimensions needed to methematically explain our universe in terms of string theory. There are lots more dimensions,

There is no such thing as a 11 dimension object, or a 4 dimension object. Time is often considered to be the fourth dimension to isolate the address of a point (a point in time).

[infamous]

This question of dimensions has been on my mind for some time now. I'm no authority but, the main source of confusion for myself is; if mindless particles can distinguish the difference between right and left, why do we insist that in empty there is no way of knowing the difference. Does't a point of origin determine that there might in fact be six spacial dimensions. I realize that this may be a stupid question, but I felt it necessary to ask anyway.

[Freethinker]

Originally Posted by infamous

if mindless particles can distinguish the difference between right and left,

I'm not sure that suggesting an ability to "distinguish" is apporpriate. It would indicate selfawareness as one has to establish their position in order to "distinguish" a different one. The left/ right (up/ down, ...) designation can be perhaps better understood as our attempt to use existing termonology to help our human communications. Rather than actual dimensional directions for the particle. It is just another anthropomorphic left over.

Originally Posted by infamous

Does't a point of origin determine that there might in fact be six spacial dimensions. I realize that this may be a stupid question, but I felt it necessary to ask anyway.

It's a good question. Not stupid. Glad you asked. But I am not sure of the context. While there is discussion of more than 4 dimensions in explanations of Superstrings, only the 3 spacial ones we deal with normally, are more than perhaps manifolds folded back on themselves. A point of origin only requires 6 dimensions in order to reference relative positions of the point of origin and another point (destination?) But each's location is determined by 3 dimensions.

[infamous]

I quess it would be true that for an observer looking in "as it were" on any activity in our universe, that only three spacial dimensions would be necessary to explain our existence. But what about the ones being observed, a mindless particle certainly is not aware of it's position in space but something about space must determine a difference between right and left. If there were no difference particles could only sprial in one direction while traveling through space. Maybe this is a function of a direction in time, and not a difference between right and left. I'm realy not sure myself, just like to understand this conflict of ideas a little better. Maybe you have some other ideas on this, thanks for any information about this that you might be willing to share.

[maddog]

A bit of wandering in this thread. To stay close to topic, I am interested in the theme about
time being either different or the same as the spatial dimensions. From SR they are
considered so. However, it may not look so when you consider the Minkowski metric used.

For a good read on time as a subject itself, I recommend a book titled, "About Time". I
forget the author. Do a google lookup. Fascinating stuff is considered. Only about 2 yrs
old material too.

Maddog

[hefner]

Originally Posted by pgrmdave

.. what information would be lost in thought experiments that reduce all dimensions by one, as in imagining people as two dimensional beings moving through a third dimension they call time?

I think nothing would be lost. The time dimension is made analogous to the others by multiplying t times c, making it the distance light would cover in time t.

[paultrr]

When it comes to multidimensional theories and what exactly is physically possible I might suggest seeing gr-qc/0501026 which gives some hint that sets of 4 dimensions seem to be the most consistant. Thus, in a way not all dimensions are created equal, so to speak. As the author of this paper mentions a bit in brief this has implications when it comes to modern multidimensional theories like Brane Theory.

[lindagarrette]

Originally Posted by maddog

For a good read on time as a subject itself, I recommend a book titled, "About Time". I
forget the author. Do a google lookup. Fascinating stuff is considered. Only about 2 yrs
old material too.

Maddog

Paul Davies is the author. Great book!