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Author Topic:   What's the Fabric of space made out of?
Loudmouth
Inactive Member


Message 6 of 284 (189202)
02-28-2005 11:57 AM
Reply to: Message 5 by Fabric
02-28-2005 11:49 AM


Re: just curious
quote:
but what is actual space made out of, & if it is sretching how does it keep doing so without breaking in half or tearing ?
Only matter can tear. Space is not made out of matter. Space is an area with four dimensions if including time. It is only called "fabric" as an analoy, not as a true description of the material aspects of space/time.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 5 by Fabric, posted 02-28-2005 11:49 AM Fabric has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 8 by Fabric, posted 02-28-2005 4:03 PM Loudmouth has replied

  
Loudmouth
Inactive Member


Message 9 of 284 (189259)
02-28-2005 4:27 PM
Reply to: Message 8 by Fabric
02-28-2005 4:03 PM


Re: just curious
quote:
but if before the Big Bang there was an absolute nothing then space was created spontanously from the Big Bang then space has to be made out of something to exist , do you see what im trying to say here, i know space is a void but surely to exist it has to be made out of something? Or maybe not, i dont know thats why im asking. cheers Fabric.
Space is just an area that obeys certain laws. And I think you said it all, space is a void so it is nothing by definition. All that defines space are the natural laws that matter/energy obeys within that space.

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 Message 8 by Fabric, posted 02-28-2005 4:03 PM Fabric has not replied

  
Loudmouth
Inactive Member


Message 19 of 284 (189514)
03-01-2005 5:03 PM
Reply to: Message 18 by NosyNed
03-01-2005 4:34 PM


Re: A book
quote:
I'm just starting to read my ( ah em, autographed) copy of "The Fabric of the Cosmos" by Brian Greene. He is a very clear speaker and writer but somehow I think just what "the fabric" is may still not be answered by the end.
It may not be answered. What I find interesting (and correct me if I'm wrong) is that space can be quantized as the Plank length and Plank time, the shortest units of distance and time. I find that very interesting, if I am understanding it correctly.
Another interesting phenomena, at least to me, is that the constant pi changes in large gravity wells, such as that found in black holes. Just another example of reality running counter to human intuition.

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 Message 18 by NosyNed, posted 03-01-2005 4:34 PM NosyNed has not replied

  
Loudmouth
Inactive Member


Message 38 of 284 (190040)
03-04-2005 11:50 AM
Reply to: Message 36 by Buzsaw
03-04-2005 9:46 AM


Re: Sylas's statements.
quote:
In order to observe it's alleged curvature, the only thing anyone would be capable to observe are things in space. Right? It is impossible to see, feel, analyze or measure space itself. From what you've said it appears that any observation, analysis or measurement of it must be done relative to things in it, for you have not come up with anything intrinsic in it having the capabability of analysis of it. Your definition of space appears to be so far boiling down to curved and expanding area consisting itself of nothing definitive in which things exist. To my knowledge we have no curved or expanding model of anything that cannot be defined.
I'm not speaking for Sylas, but I thought of a way to explain this that might clear up a few things. We can observe the properties of space in the same way that we observe gravity. We can't see gravity, and gravity is not made up of anything. It is a force. However, we can observe gravity by the way particles or masses act inside a gravitational well. In the same way, we can observe the characteristics of space-time by the way that things behave within it.
The expansion of space has resulted in a globe with flat sides. I can't think of an analogy or a better way of explaining it. Needless to say, physics defies common sense.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 36 by Buzsaw, posted 03-04-2005 9:46 AM Buzsaw has replied

Replies to this message:
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Loudmouth
Inactive Member


Message 82 of 284 (190976)
03-10-2005 5:05 PM
Reply to: Message 81 by Buzsaw
03-09-2005 6:08 PM


Re: Sylas's good work
quote:
Imo, it may be good for you higher physics buffs to have some logical problems brought forth from the street laity since you don't likely have to deal with some of these logic questions in the science arena.
I completely agree with your sentiment, Buzz. However, the layperson often confuses "logic" with "common sense". The two are not the same thing. Space/time, relativity, and a host of other things within physics defy common sense but they are logical. I think this is where you are running into problems, thinking that physics has to make "sense" instead of figuring out if the conclusions are consistent with the evidence.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 81 by Buzsaw, posted 03-09-2005 6:08 PM Buzsaw has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 87 by Buzsaw, posted 03-11-2005 8:17 PM Loudmouth has not replied

  
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