• Question: How many dimensions are there?

    Asked by alfie11 to Ben, Dave, Ed, Sam, Susana on 23 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: David Briggs

      David Briggs answered on 23 Jun 2013:

      That depends.

      In terms of how we perceive space and movement (classical physics)- there are 4 – Up/down, left/right, forwards/backwards and time.

      If you are talking about some of the more complicated branches of physics, like string theory, I think there are 10. Maybe 11 in some cases.

      I’ll be honest, I don’t fully understand them.

    • Photo: Sam Horrell

      Sam Horrell answered on 26 Jun 2013:

      This is the sort of physics that is way over my head. It all comes down to some very complicated physics, but even physicists can’t agree exactly on it. Some believe string theory is correct, others quantum loop gravity. As usual it all comes down to something to do with gravity but I can barely follow what either of them are talking about, let alone give you an oppinion on what I think is the better theory.

    • Photo: Susana Teixeira

      Susana Teixeira answered on 26 Jun 2013:

      I cannot help quoting Rod Serling, creator of an old TV series that I adored when I was a teenager:

      “There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone.”

      There are different theories, but beyond the 3D spacial dimensions, and time, it is uncertain how many more there are. When you think that we are still at that stage in Science when we call a significant part of what our universe is made of “Dark Matter”, this is no surprise…. we still have a lot to learn!

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