Is spacetime wholly a mathematical construct and not a real thing?
Speaking of what I understood, spacetime is three dimensions of space and one of time. Now, if we look at general relativity, spacetime is generally reckoned as a 'fabric'. So my question is, whether spacetime is real or is just a mathematical construct to understand various things. In addition to this, if it's a mathematical thing, then what does its distortion/bending mean?
general-relativity spacetime differential-geometry metric-tensor curvature
edited 4 mins ago
Qmechanic♦
102k121831165
asked 2 hours ago
TaskMasterTaskMaster
192
add a comment |
Speaking of what I understood, spacetime is three dimensions of space and one of time. Now, if we look at general relativity, spacetime is generally reckoned as a 'fabric'. So my question is, whether spacetime is real or is just a mathematical construct to understand various things. In addition to this, if it's a mathematical thing, then what does its distortion/bending mean?
general-relativity spacetime differential-geometry metric-tensor curvature
edited 4 mins ago
Qmechanic♦
102k121831165
asked 2 hours ago
TaskMasterTaskMaster
192
How do you define real?
– safesphere
46 secs ago
add a comment |
Speaking of what I understood, spacetime is three dimensions of space and one of time. Now, if we look at general relativity, spacetime is generally reckoned as a 'fabric'. So my question is, whether spacetime is real or is just a mathematical construct to understand various things. In addition to this, if it's a mathematical thing, then what does its distortion/bending mean?
general-relativity spacetime differential-geometry metric-tensor curvature
edited 4 mins ago
Qmechanic♦
102k121831165
asked 2 hours ago
TaskMasterTaskMaster
192
Speaking of what I understood, spacetime is three dimensions of space and one of time. Now, if we look at general relativity, spacetime is generally reckoned as a 'fabric'. So my question is, whether spacetime is real or is just a mathematical construct to understand various things. In addition to this, if it's a mathematical thing, then what does its distortion/bending mean?
general-relativity spacetime differential-geometry metric-tensor curvature
general-relativity spacetime differential-geometry metric-tensor curvature
edited 4 mins ago
Qmechanic♦
102k121831165
asked 2 hours ago
TaskMasterTaskMaster
192
edited 4 mins ago
Qmechanic♦
102k121831165
asked 2 hours ago
TaskMasterTaskMaster
192
edited 4 mins ago
Qmechanic♦
102k121831165
edited 4 mins ago
Qmechanic♦
102k121831165
edited 4 mins ago
Qmechanic♦
102k121831165
102k121831165
asked 2 hours ago
TaskMasterTaskMaster
192
asked 2 hours ago
TaskMasterTaskMaster
192
asked 2 hours ago
TaskMasterTaskMaster
192
192
How do you define real?
– safesphere
46 secs ago
add a comment |
How do you define real?
– safesphere
46 secs ago
How do you define real?
– safesphere
46 secs ago
How do you define real?
– safesphere
46 secs ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
spacetime is three dimensions of space and one of time. ... my question is, whether spacetime is real or is just a mathematical construct
Here is different from there and now is different from then whether you do the math or not. A mathematical construct cannot be the difference between a near miss and a catastrophic collision.
answered 2 hours ago
DaleDale
5,1941826
So do you mean that spacetime depicts a real thing?
– TaskMaster
2 hours ago
1
I am not a big fan of the word “real”, but it is definitely more than just a mathematical construct
– Dale
1 hour ago
add a comment |
Gravitational waves carry energy, momentum, and angular momentum from one point to another. In my book, this makes spacetime just as real as an electromagnetic field, which also transports these quantities. You feel electromagnetic energy whenever you walk outside on a sunny day. If gravity weren’t so weak, you would feel the energy in gravitational waves.
Most physicists consider these fields just as real as matter, which in modern physics is
explained using yet more fields!
answered 2 hours ago
G. SmithG. Smith
5,2891021
add a comment |
Spacetime furnishes the stage upon which all the physics in the universe is acted out, in one way or another. For it to behave in the way we have observed it to, it must have certain properties, and our measurements of those properties are in close correspondence with calculations based on our mathematical models.
Based on this, spacetime is not just a mathematical construct invented to make calculations easier. The constructs are our mathematical models, which are intended to represent the functioning of the universe as it is.
answered 1 hour ago
niels nielsenniels nielsen
17k42755
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
});
});
}, "mathjax-editing");
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "151"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fphysics.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f454068%2fis-spacetime-wholly-a-mathematical-construct-and-not-a-real-thing%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
spacetime is three dimensions of space and one of time. ... my question is, whether spacetime is real or is just a mathematical construct
Here is different from there and now is different from then whether you do the math or not. A mathematical construct cannot be the difference between a near miss and a catastrophic collision.
answered 2 hours ago
DaleDale
5,1941826
So do you mean that spacetime depicts a real thing?
– TaskMaster
2 hours ago
1
I am not a big fan of the word “real”, but it is definitely more than just a mathematical construct
– Dale
1 hour ago
add a comment |
spacetime is three dimensions of space and one of time. ... my question is, whether spacetime is real or is just a mathematical construct
Here is different from there and now is different from then whether you do the math or not. A mathematical construct cannot be the difference between a near miss and a catastrophic collision.
answered 2 hours ago
DaleDale
5,1941826
So do you mean that spacetime depicts a real thing?
– TaskMaster
2 hours ago
1
I am not a big fan of the word “real”, but it is definitely more than just a mathematical construct
– Dale
1 hour ago
add a comment |
spacetime is three dimensions of space and one of time. ... my question is, whether spacetime is real or is just a mathematical construct
Here is different from there and now is different from then whether you do the math or not. A mathematical construct cannot be the difference between a near miss and a catastrophic collision.
answered 2 hours ago
DaleDale
5,1941826
spacetime is three dimensions of space and one of time. ... my question is, whether spacetime is real or is just a mathematical construct
Here is different from there and now is different from then whether you do the math or not. A mathematical construct cannot be the difference between a near miss and a catastrophic collision.
answered 2 hours ago
DaleDale
5,1941826
answered 2 hours ago
DaleDale
5,1941826
answered 2 hours ago
DaleDale
5,1941826
answered 2 hours ago
DaleDale
5,1941826
5,1941826
So do you mean that spacetime depicts a real thing?
– TaskMaster
2 hours ago
1
I am not a big fan of the word “real”, but it is definitely more than just a mathematical construct
– Dale
1 hour ago
add a comment |
So do you mean that spacetime depicts a real thing?
– TaskMaster
2 hours ago
1
I am not a big fan of the word “real”, but it is definitely more than just a mathematical construct
– Dale
1 hour ago
So do you mean that spacetime depicts a real thing?
– TaskMaster
2 hours ago
So do you mean that spacetime depicts a real thing?
– TaskMaster
2 hours ago
1
1
I am not a big fan of the word “real”, but it is definitely more than just a mathematical construct
– Dale
1 hour ago
I am not a big fan of the word “real”, but it is definitely more than just a mathematical construct
– Dale
1 hour ago
add a comment |
Gravitational waves carry energy, momentum, and angular momentum from one point to another. In my book, this makes spacetime just as real as an electromagnetic field, which also transports these quantities. You feel electromagnetic energy whenever you walk outside on a sunny day. If gravity weren’t so weak, you would feel the energy in gravitational waves.
Most physicists consider these fields just as real as matter, which in modern physics is
explained using yet more fields!
answered 2 hours ago
G. SmithG. Smith
5,2891021
add a comment |
Gravitational waves carry energy, momentum, and angular momentum from one point to another. In my book, this makes spacetime just as real as an electromagnetic field, which also transports these quantities. You feel electromagnetic energy whenever you walk outside on a sunny day. If gravity weren’t so weak, you would feel the energy in gravitational waves.
Most physicists consider these fields just as real as matter, which in modern physics is
explained using yet more fields!
answered 2 hours ago
G. SmithG. Smith
5,2891021
add a comment |
Gravitational waves carry energy, momentum, and angular momentum from one point to another. In my book, this makes spacetime just as real as an electromagnetic field, which also transports these quantities. You feel electromagnetic energy whenever you walk outside on a sunny day. If gravity weren’t so weak, you would feel the energy in gravitational waves.
Most physicists consider these fields just as real as matter, which in modern physics is
explained using yet more fields!
answered 2 hours ago
G. SmithG. Smith
5,2891021
Gravitational waves carry energy, momentum, and angular momentum from one point to another. In my book, this makes spacetime just as real as an electromagnetic field, which also transports these quantities. You feel electromagnetic energy whenever you walk outside on a sunny day. If gravity weren’t so weak, you would feel the energy in gravitational waves.
Most physicists consider these fields just as real as matter, which in modern physics is
explained using yet more fields!
answered 2 hours ago
G. SmithG. Smith
5,2891021
edited 2 hours ago
answered 2 hours ago
G. SmithG. Smith
5,2891021
answered 2 hours ago
G. SmithG. Smith
5,2891021
answered 2 hours ago
G. SmithG. Smith
5,2891021
5,2891021
add a comment |
add a comment |
Spacetime furnishes the stage upon which all the physics in the universe is acted out, in one way or another. For it to behave in the way we have observed it to, it must have certain properties, and our measurements of those properties are in close correspondence with calculations based on our mathematical models.
Based on this, spacetime is not just a mathematical construct invented to make calculations easier. The constructs are our mathematical models, which are intended to represent the functioning of the universe as it is.
answered 1 hour ago
niels nielsenniels nielsen
17k42755
add a comment |
Spacetime furnishes the stage upon which all the physics in the universe is acted out, in one way or another. For it to behave in the way we have observed it to, it must have certain properties, and our measurements of those properties are in close correspondence with calculations based on our mathematical models.
Based on this, spacetime is not just a mathematical construct invented to make calculations easier. The constructs are our mathematical models, which are intended to represent the functioning of the universe as it is.
answered 1 hour ago
niels nielsenniels nielsen
17k42755
add a comment |
Spacetime furnishes the stage upon which all the physics in the universe is acted out, in one way or another. For it to behave in the way we have observed it to, it must have certain properties, and our measurements of those properties are in close correspondence with calculations based on our mathematical models.
Based on this, spacetime is not just a mathematical construct invented to make calculations easier. The constructs are our mathematical models, which are intended to represent the functioning of the universe as it is.
answered 1 hour ago
niels nielsenniels nielsen
17k42755
Spacetime furnishes the stage upon which all the physics in the universe is acted out, in one way or another. For it to behave in the way we have observed it to, it must have certain properties, and our measurements of those properties are in close correspondence with calculations based on our mathematical models.
Based on this, spacetime is not just a mathematical construct invented to make calculations easier. The constructs are our mathematical models, which are intended to represent the functioning of the universe as it is.
answered 1 hour ago
niels nielsenniels nielsen
17k42755
answered 1 hour ago
niels nielsenniels nielsen
17k42755
answered 1 hour ago
niels nielsenniels nielsen
17k42755
answered 1 hour ago
niels nielsenniels nielsen
17k42755
17k42755
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Physics Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fphysics.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f454068%2fis-spacetime-wholly-a-mathematical-construct-and-not-a-real-thing%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
How do you define real?
– safesphere
46 secs ago