Is Spacetime Everywhere and Does it Stack Infinitely?

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In summary, the speaker is curious about how spacetime works in the universe and wonders if it exists everywhere and is constantly stacking upon itself. They mention a picture that only shows one plane of spacetime and wonder if it is limited in its representation. Another person responds that it is difficult to accurately depict a curved 4D spacetime on a 2D monitor and that the rubber sheet visualization should not be taken too seriously. The speaker thanks the person for their explanation.
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jdfire33
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So I have just recently started thinking about the universe and things like that, and I had a question about spacetime. I was curious as to how exactly spacetime works in the universe. Pictures usually show only one plane of spacetime, such as this picture. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Spacetime_curvature.png.
But isn't spacetime everywhere? So does it stack upon itself infinitely, creating a bunch of layers over and over? Sorry if this doesn't make sense, or if this isn't right the place for it.
 
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jdfire33 said:
But isn't spacetime everywhere? So does it stack upon itself infinitely, creating a bunch of layers over and over?
Yes, but it is exceptionally hard to draw a curved 4D spacetime on a flat 2D monitor.
 
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The rubber sheet is a visualization tool, but it shouldn't be taken too seriously. One of its limitations is that it can only show two space dimensions, whereas really there are three of space and one of time (3+1).
 
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All right thank you. that helps me understand it more.
 

FAQ: Is Spacetime Everywhere and Does it Stack Infinitely?

What is spacetime?

Spacetime is a concept in physics that combines the three dimensions of space (length, width, and height) with the dimension of time. It is a mathematical model that helps explain the relationships between objects in the universe and how they move through space and time.

How does spacetime affect gravity?

According to Einstein's theory of general relativity, massive objects such as planets and stars create a curvature in spacetime, which causes other objects to follow a curved path around them. This is what we experience as gravity.

Is spacetime the same thing as the fabric of the universe?

No, spacetime is not the same thing as the fabric of the universe. The fabric of the universe refers to the entire physical structure of the universe, including all matter and energy. Spacetime is a specific mathematical model that helps us understand how objects move within the fabric of the universe.

Can spacetime be altered or manipulated?

Yes, spacetime can be altered or manipulated through the presence of massive objects or high energy. For example, black holes are extremely dense objects that have a strong gravitational pull, causing a significant distortion in spacetime. Additionally, theories such as wormholes suggest that it may be possible to manipulate spacetime to create shortcuts through space.

Is spacetime infinite?

The current scientific understanding is that the universe is infinite, and therefore, spacetime is also infinite. However, there are still many unanswered questions about the nature of the universe and spacetime, and our understanding may change as we continue to study and explore the vastness of the cosmos.

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