Important Math Question

[atari_eric]

Not to mention, infinite amount of stuff in the way! Anything from dust particles to Huge planets.

Since we're on the subject of math, does anyone know the formula for finding the area of a 4-dimensional sphere? Assuming an equal radius for all 4 axes...

(spelling)

[ November 01, 2003, 17:29: Message edited by: atari_eric ]

[Grandpa Kim]

Not to mention, infinite amount of stuff in the way! Anything from dust particles to Huge planets.

... which is also being bombarded by an infinite number of photons and has thus been heated up to stellar temperatures and is now emitting photons itself.

LOL... Just think, there are an infinite number of Shrapnel Forums discussing this very same subject. An infinite number of Grandpa Kims, an infinite number of Phoenix-Ds, an infinite number of Atari_Erics... and an infinite number of advanced aliens laughing their asses off at our silly antics.

I'm beginning to think that infinity is a total fiction invented by the human mind. The inherent contradictions won't allow its existence. It doesn't exist and cannot exist.

[Grandpa Kim]

Since we're on the subject of math, does anyone know the formula for finding the area of a 4-dimensional sphere? Assuming an equal radius for all 4 axes...

Sorry can't help you there but how about an additional question:

the formula for the 3D volume of a 4 dimensional sphere? This would be analogous to the area of a 3D sphere.

[Phoenix-D]

Originally posted by Grandpa Kim:

quote:

---

Infinite stars, true. But also infite space..

And infinite time.

No limits to infinity, please.

---

Actually even an infinite universe could have a finite start. And you are still leaving infite space out of the equation. If space is infinite, all the stars that would cause that problem could be on the "other side" of infinity. Photons aren't infinite, and with every step you loose energy.

Put it this way: it is entirely possible to have an infinite number of stars in an infinite volume- and still have each star so far apart that none of the others would be visible to the naked eye. Or to have each star several trillion light -millenia- away from each other.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

if the universe is infinite in size, the distance between us and any galaxy will still not be infinite.

what if, at extreme distances, photon's degraded and were absorbed into the general background? infinite energy/infinite space = finite amount of energy/finite amount of space.

then you could have an infinite universe without being baked.

[Grandpa Kim]

Okay, I give up. If you insist on putting limits to infinity I am unable to present a coherent argument. All I will say is you haven't thought it through.

ie: Where does that degraded photon energy go?
How do you know infinite space is possible without infinite time?

This is a great thought exercise for expanding your personal universe. Think about the ramifications of infinity long enough and it begins to collapse like a house of cards. Anything and everything is possible-- no, not possible but has occurred an infinite number of times.
So maybe the universe is infinite.

But I don't believe it. The universe is finite.

[Phoenix-D]

Originally posted by Grandpa Kim:
Okay, I give up. If you insist on putting limits to infinity I am unable to present a coherent argument. All I will say is you haven't thought it through.

As it happens, I'm not putting limits on. You're just disregarding the space argument..

ie: Where does that degraded photon energy go?
How do you know infinite space is possible without infinite time?

The photon energy is lost, or absorbed. Some fraction is sent on, which then hits something else and repeats the process. Infinite number of photons..infinite number of barriers. And at any given time, only a finite number of those photons are actually arriving at any given point.

This is a great thought exercise for expanding your personal universe. Think about the ramifications of infinity long enough and it begins to collapse like a house of cards. Anything and everything is possible-- no, not possible but has occurred an infinite number of times.
So maybe the universe is infinite.

But I don't believe it. The universe is finite.

Try this thought exericise then. If the universe is finite- what happens when you reach the edge? I'd have an easier time beliving that -space- is infinite, even if matter isn't.

EDIT: word-level typos.

[ November 01, 2003, 23:07: Message edited by: Phoenix-D ]