- #1
Jimmy
- 769
- 38
When considering the three dimensions of space and our freedom of movement in that space, does our ability to change our state of motion (acceleration) imply an existence of a fourth dimension, ie. four space-time dimensions?
Given three dimensions each mutually perpendicular, we can move up, down, left, right, forward and backward. We can also rotate around each axes. Is a fourth axes perpendicular to the other three necessary for going faster and slower?
I know it's often debated whether time is really a physical dimension or just an abstraction. I also know that with regard to 4-D space-time, time isn't a dimension separate from the other three in an absolute sense; it depends on your orientation within space-time.
To summarize my question: is a fourth dimension implicit by the fact that we can accelerate and would it be possible to change the motion of any object without this dimension?
Given three dimensions each mutually perpendicular, we can move up, down, left, right, forward and backward. We can also rotate around each axes. Is a fourth axes perpendicular to the other three necessary for going faster and slower?
I know it's often debated whether time is really a physical dimension or just an abstraction. I also know that with regard to 4-D space-time, time isn't a dimension separate from the other three in an absolute sense; it depends on your orientation within space-time.
To summarize my question: is a fourth dimension implicit by the fact that we can accelerate and would it be possible to change the motion of any object without this dimension?
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