Math Is Fun Forum

Laterally Speaking

Real Member

Registered: 2007-05-21

Posts: 356

Re: What shape is the universe?

Actually, there is a problem with this: there is no distinction between the inside and the outside... The same problem as a coffee cup, or any other recipient.

The shape is still really neat though.

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"Knowledge is directly proportional to the amount of equipment ruined."
"This woman painted a picture of me; she was clearly a psychopath"

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

Re: What shape is the universe?

While rampant speculation is fun, what I suggest is you guys wait till you can take a college geometry/topology course.  Because there is a point where these things being counter-intuitive and just down right weird.  I only know enough of it to know that I don't know any of it.

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"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

Laterally Speaking

Real Member

Registered: 2007-05-21

Posts: 356

Re: What shape is the universe?

That much, eh? That's more than can be said for most people around today.

(No offense intended towards any people in particular)

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"Knowledge is directly proportional to the amount of equipment ruined."
"This woman painted a picture of me; she was clearly a psychopath"

LQ

Real Member

Registered: 2006-12-04

Posts: 1,285

Re: What shape is the universe?

Here's another theory:

There is a 3-d shape that is the 3-dimensional equivalent of a Mobius strip; the shape, resembling a jar, has only one surface and no edges. Perhaps the universe could resemble this.

Yes, and the mobius got the lot of us!!! (kidding)
PS. mobius is one of those small buttmouths right?

Last edited by LQ (2007-05-24 19:45:11)

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I see clearly now, the universe have the black dots, Thus I am on my way of inventing this remedy...

Ma+th=fun

Member

Registered: 2007-05-08

Posts: 41

Re: What shape is the universe?

I think there is no end to the universe so it is not a shape at all. The universe is also expanding, so if there was a definite shape it would be getting larger. That's just what I think. I'm probaly wrong. But interesting topic.

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I love pi.

Stanley_Marsh

Member

Registered: 2006-12-13

Posts: 345

Re: What shape is the universe?

The outside of universe is a higher dimension which contains lots of universe?

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Numbers are the essence of the Universe

Daniel123

Member

Registered: 2007-05-23

Posts: 663

Re: What shape is the universe?

If the universe is expanding, what happens when you get to the edge of it? And i dont see how it can be both infinite and expanding - because if it was expanding, there must be and edge that is expanding, but if it was infinite then there would be universe already beyond that edge. Does anyone understand what i mean?

Zach

Member

Registered: 2005-03-23

Posts: 2,075

Re: What shape is the universe?

Saddle shaped.

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Boy let me tell you what:
I bet you didn't know it, but I'm a fiddle player too.
And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you.

Stanley_Marsh

Member

Registered: 2006-12-13

Posts: 345

Re: What shape is the universe?

I can give an example of inifinite and expanding ,  like the interval (1,2) , you can never reach the end of it , thought you are moving toward 2 , but the interval can expand to (0 ,3) .... haha~

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Numbers are the essence of the Universe

Daniel123

Member

Registered: 2007-05-23

Posts: 663

Re: What shape is the universe?

ok you may never be able to reach the end of that interval, but you can still imagine the end whilst not being there? what would the edge a universe that is both infinite and expanding look like? and what is it expanding into?

Stanley_Marsh

Member

Registered: 2006-12-13

Posts: 345

Re: What shape is the universe?

Maybe the word end has extra abstract concept when applying to the universe.

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Numbers are the essence of the Universe

Daniel123

Member

Registered: 2007-05-23

Posts: 663

Re: What shape is the universe?

Maybe!! What age are you by the way?

Stanley_Marsh

Member

Registered: 2006-12-13

Posts: 345

Re: What shape is the universe?

Haha , I am 18~

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Numbers are the essence of the Universe

Daniel123

Member

Registered: 2007-05-23

Posts: 663

Re: What shape is the universe?

ooh... are you at uni or what?

im 15.... in the middle of my gcses... the next one's maths

im hoping for minimum of 9 A*s and 2 As

Stanley_Marsh

Member

Registered: 2006-12-13

Posts: 345

Re: What shape is the universe?

My situation is kinda different , I've been in USA for 5 month by now, I have to prepare for SAT .
I really love math thought I am not very good at it.

This seems kinda oof topic , let's get back to it

Last edited by Stanley_Marsh (2007-05-24 10:22:57)

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Numbers are the essence of the Universe

Ma+th=fun

Member

Registered: 2007-05-08

Posts: 41

Re: What shape is the universe?

yes we should.

What i mean by the universe is expanding is that the other galaxys are getting farther from us. I know that the fact that the universe is unlimited is really hard to belive. But now that i thought about it the universe is probaly an expanding doughnut. Yum!

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I love pi.

Daniel123

Member

Registered: 2007-05-23

Posts: 663

Re: What shape is the universe?

Slightly changing the subject but not completely - how does everyone think the universe was created? I dont think it was the 'Big Bang'. The big bang theory says the universe started from an extremely hot and dense state, and has been expanding for around 14 billion years. But where did the material that started the big bang come from? And if there was no universe, what was it in?

LQ

Real Member

Registered: 2006-12-04

Posts: 1,285

Re: What shape is the universe?

It could not be something, instead there was nothing. a dot with 0 length in all directions, since nothing has no limits, since then it wouldn't be nothing. but the inf dimensional dot decayed to many lesser dimensional dots called space and mass, and they in there turn will possibly decay too, until the universe is 0 dimensional, which will take an infinitely long time.

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I see clearly now, the universe have the black dots, Thus I am on my way of inventing this remedy...

Daniel123

Member

Registered: 2007-05-23

Posts: 663

Re: What shape is the universe?

If that will take an infinitely long time, then wont it never happen?

LQ

Real Member

Registered: 2006-12-04

Posts: 1,285

Re: What shape is the universe?

It will, it's just that the time between now and then will never finish.

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I see clearly now, the universe have the black dots, Thus I am on my way of inventing this remedy...

Daniel123

Member

Registered: 2007-05-23

Posts: 663

Re: What shape is the universe?

But surely if it takes infinitely long to reach that point in time, that point in time will never be reached - so it will never happen?

LQ

Real Member

Registered: 2006-12-04

Posts: 1,285

Re: What shape is the universe?

if there is a point of time to reach, doesn't that mean that the point of time allready exist, it's just that the end time never will be reached?

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I see clearly now, the universe have the black dots, Thus I am on my way of inventing this remedy...

Daniel123

Member

Registered: 2007-05-23

Posts: 663

Re: What shape is the universe?

Thats kinda what im saying - if the end of time will never be reached, then the end of time will never happen.

LQ

Real Member

Registered: 2006-12-04

Posts: 1,285

Re: What shape is the universe?

Yes, but there is an end even though, yes, we will never reach it.

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I see clearly now, the universe have the black dots, Thus I am on my way of inventing this remedy...

Daniel123

Member

Registered: 2007-05-23

Posts: 663

Re: What shape is the universe?

But how can there be and end if it will never be reached? surely it will just 'be', with no end.