The 4th dimension explained

MrTanookiMario Says:

Oct 28, 2009 - This is actually a really irritating myth. it's has no scientific backing. This fact is falsely attributed to many, ranging from Einstein to Pierre Flourens, but it's just plain wrong.

MrTanookiMario Says:

Oct 28, 2009 - It doesn't matter which number you call it. Time is "one" other dimension, and it is quite different from the spacial dimensions. You are bound to move in one direction through time, but the other three (or more) have two choices: up/down, left/right, etc.

HellsHighwayTrooper Says:

Oct 29, 2009 - Whats the point in talking about it and understanding it when we cant even sense it.

MrTanookiMario Says:

Oct 29, 2009 - That's the kind of thinking that stops scientific progress. Imagine if people had said that about atoms. That would mean no TV, no computers, no (or very limited) understanding of chemical reactions (and therefore no plastics), and that's only the stuff that's directly related that comes to mind.

HellsHighwayTrooper Says:

Oct 30, 2009 - But i can understand atoms, but this is just simply barbaric and we cannot gain anything out of this but just complete understanding of it. Move onto something else.

MrTanookiMario Says:

Oct 30, 2009 - @ SonofBrighid: I have to point out that this is a terrible misconception... Dimensions are essentially degrees of freedom. Length, width, and height give a particle the ability to change its x, y, or z coordinates independent of the other two. Time does the same. But mass cannot be changed freely without changing the object itself. Mass *is* a fundamental property of matter, but to change it, you either combine two separate objects, or add energy to the object (according to relativity).

MrTanookiMario Says:

Oct 30, 2009 - @MobyVag: I'll try to help! I'm not quite sure how to reconcile this in my mind yet, but there seems to be two types of dimensions in nature: temporal ones (i.e. time) and spacial ones. Temporal dimensions are different in that you are pulled in one direction through them, while spacial dimensions allow two directions of movement (i.e. up/down, left/right, etc.) Sagan is summarizing the idea of a 4th *spacial* dimension. Time isn't necessarily the *4th* dimension; the number doesn't matter.

MrTanookiMario Says:

Oct 30, 2009 - @ dyzeesupernaturalzzz There are no beings in our universe that are 1- or 2-d; matter as we know it is inherently 3-d. I think you're not understanding that a dimension is not a "place," it is a "degree of freedom" (i.e. a direction that you are allowed to move in). 0-d is zero degrees of freedom--a point. 1-d is only 1 degree of freedom--a line. 2-d is a plane (two lines at right angles). 3-d is space (2 planes at right angles).

splatwacker Says:

Nov 1, 2009 - That's what she said... sorry, impulse.

Steadno Says:

Nov 1, 2009 - this man was a gift

chris76367 Says:

Nov 5, 2009 - In my vision, time is the very first dimention or it might not even exist. I watched "Time is an illussion" and so far I dont even get it but they might have a point.

CBETA3ABP Says:

Nov 7, 2009 - Continuous logic mistakes or lack of spatial thinking... ' two-dimensional objects ' would not see even a line from passing through the two-dimensional world of a three-dimensional figure since for this purpose thickness ' this two-dimensional world is necessary ', and ' thickness ' it already an element of three-dimensional space.

CBETA3ABP Says:

Nov 7, 2009 - All that is "visible" during each separate moment of time (!) are two two-dimensional pictures "observable" from two points simultaneously (two eyes) and only change of these pictures creates illusion of "tridimentionality", i.e. TIME "recovers" process " three-dimensional perception. All other sensations also is only ILLUSION of "perceived information" into the same point in sequence of time.

man1234567893232 Says:

Nov 8, 2009 - FINALLY i understand this! so we can't see the fourth dimension, only the 3 dimensional section, or projection of it.THANKS!

Aquotron Says:

Nov 9, 2009 - I hope nobody eats that apple.

michaelfarm Says:

Nov 13, 2009 - Carl Sagan is the shit! I can watch Science channel marathons of Cosmos for hours non-stop.

gothicsolace Says:

Nov 17, 2009 - Ha, me too. I don't know what it is about his voice, it just makes for such great narrative.

myysticranger Says:

Nov 19, 2009 - He totally make me think of Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith

Lepiratepoulpe Says:

Nov 20, 2009 - Could we une the Shannon-Nyquist theorem to pinpoint the 4th dimention ?

maxellaz Says:

Nov 21, 2009 - okay so basicly in the Flat Land Dimension (1rst dimension) the flat landers can teleport by going UP wow thats wow

doscentoskay Says:

Nov 21, 2009 - "Time" is primative word and perception made by man because they can't fathom or nor can they relate to infinity. What this guy is explaning has nothing to do with it. Very simple explanation of dimensions yet so deep.

Aqueries44 Says:

Nov 22, 2009 - actually, flat land would be the 2nd dimension (the 2 dimensions being length and width, or the x and y axes on a graph). the first dimension would just be one of those, like a number line. everything would be just a line.

VeriCarreri Says:

Nov 23, 2009 - ....eventually big pharm steps in a medicates all the flat landers

DecoySteveO Says:

Nov 23, 2009 - 4D .. I Understand But its funny hOW i Cant see it

maxellaz Says:

Nov 23, 2009 - okay thanks for clearinng that out for me