- #1
Chemical_Penguin
- 18
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Confused about a part in "The Elegant Universe" ...
On page 208, second paragraph, 8th line down:
Greene says "For instance, if you sweep your hand in a large arc, you are moving not only through the three extended dimensions, but also through these curled up dimensions. Of course, because the curled up dimensions are so small, as you move your handyou circumnavigate them an enormous number of times, repeatedly returning to your starting point."
Ok, the problem I am having is this: Are we really constantly going through these extra dimensions? If this were true wouldn't we be able to detect small particles disapearing and re-appearing even if it's maybe only for an EXTREMELY SHORT amount of time?
And secondly, when you use the analogy of an ant on a long one-dimensional garden hose that actually has a curled up 2nd dimension, the ant is not required to go through this dimension constantly returning to his starting point when he travels about through the 'left-right' dimension. But what Greene is saying is that when I wave my hand around that the tiny strings that make up the particles that make up my hand are forcefully traveling in these curled-up dimensions and I just can't graspwhy I am required to move through these dimensions when the ant in line-land is not.
If anyone can shed some light on this for me I'd appreciate it, or if my description above isn't good enough, tell me that also. I really want to udnerstand this. Thanks.
-Eric
On page 208, second paragraph, 8th line down:
Greene says "For instance, if you sweep your hand in a large arc, you are moving not only through the three extended dimensions, but also through these curled up dimensions. Of course, because the curled up dimensions are so small, as you move your handyou circumnavigate them an enormous number of times, repeatedly returning to your starting point."
Ok, the problem I am having is this: Are we really constantly going through these extra dimensions? If this were true wouldn't we be able to detect small particles disapearing and re-appearing even if it's maybe only for an EXTREMELY SHORT amount of time?
And secondly, when you use the analogy of an ant on a long one-dimensional garden hose that actually has a curled up 2nd dimension, the ant is not required to go through this dimension constantly returning to his starting point when he travels about through the 'left-right' dimension. But what Greene is saying is that when I wave my hand around that the tiny strings that make up the particles that make up my hand are forcefully traveling in these curled-up dimensions and I just can't graspwhy I am required to move through these dimensions when the ant in line-land is not.
If anyone can shed some light on this for me I'd appreciate it, or if my description above isn't good enough, tell me that also. I really want to udnerstand this. Thanks.
-Eric