- #1
honestrosewater
Gold Member
- 2,143
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What do homogeneity and isotropy mean as properties of the universe?
[skippable complaining]It seems like a pretty basic question, but I can only find analogies or short and sweet 'definitions' with no context to give them meaning (which aren't necessarily bad - just not helping me). To give you an idea of how lost and frustrated I am, here are some questions that I still can't answer. To what do homogeneity and isotropy apply? What properties are the same at every point? Direction in what - space, time? How do observers fit in? What are observers? And what exactly is observation? I've read only of qualitative observations. Don't you measure anything? Can a non-homogeneous 'thing' be isotropic, or 'appear' isotropic, at some points but not others? If so, is the thing isotropic or not? If isotropy and homogeneity apply to, eh, every 'point' or 'observer', I think homogeneity implies isotropy, though I don't really know what either of them are or what they apply to or how. And I'm just making it worse by trying to extend analogies. Is the surface of a cone isotropic from the tip? I don't even know if that question makes sense. And how does homogeneity apply to the surface of a cone? Is there supposed to be some kind of pattern of the surface? Okay, sorry, I'll stop.[/skippable complaining]
I'd love some precise definitions. Does anyone know where I can find some? Lay it on me - I'm not afraid. Please.
Oh, and I'm learning this for fun () - I don't have a textbook, but I'll pick one up if I must. google has failed me for the second time ever. And I couldn't find anything in the sticky above.
[skippable complaining]It seems like a pretty basic question, but I can only find analogies or short and sweet 'definitions' with no context to give them meaning (which aren't necessarily bad - just not helping me). To give you an idea of how lost and frustrated I am, here are some questions that I still can't answer. To what do homogeneity and isotropy apply? What properties are the same at every point? Direction in what - space, time? How do observers fit in? What are observers? And what exactly is observation? I've read only of qualitative observations. Don't you measure anything? Can a non-homogeneous 'thing' be isotropic, or 'appear' isotropic, at some points but not others? If so, is the thing isotropic or not? If isotropy and homogeneity apply to, eh, every 'point' or 'observer', I think homogeneity implies isotropy, though I don't really know what either of them are or what they apply to or how. And I'm just making it worse by trying to extend analogies. Is the surface of a cone isotropic from the tip? I don't even know if that question makes sense. And how does homogeneity apply to the surface of a cone? Is there supposed to be some kind of pattern of the surface? Okay, sorry, I'll stop.[/skippable complaining]
I'd love some precise definitions. Does anyone know where I can find some? Lay it on me - I'm not afraid. Please.
Oh, and I'm learning this for fun () - I don't have a textbook, but I'll pick one up if I must. google has failed me for the second time ever. And I couldn't find anything in the sticky above.
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