- #1
Jean Paul
- 10
- 0
Hello.
The following ideas have been on my mind for quite some time and are puzzling me to no end.
1. It is known from the special theory of relativity that a photon of light travels at the speed of light no matter whether it’s coming at the observer or moving away from it. In fact even if the observer were to speed at 99% of the speed of light along the photon, that photon would still be seen as going at the speed of light. I’ve seen the time dilation equations, but those equations tell me nothing about why this paradoxical effect takes place. Can someone explain to me the *physical reason* for this?
2. Does space have a shape? What is its constitution? According to General relativity, gravitation is explained by a curve in space-time. This suggests that space has a shape. But, a shape made from what? This isn’t clear since time is nonphysical. Can someone explain to me the *physical reality* of space-time?
3. From point (2), it follows that if space has a shape, then it is constituted of something. In other words, space is made of energy. This is the energy *of* space. Then there is matter and energy *in* space. Some might say that space isn’t made of anything. If so, then matter and energy travel through nothing. If so, then space is an illusion. That doesn’t seem plausible. So space’s fabric is of energy. Can someone explain to me what space is made of?
4. Related to point (3), the moment after the Big Bang, the universe expanded with energy. Since there was nothing physical before the Big Bang, then that energy expanded into nothing. Is that possible physically? For instance, how could the universe expand from point A to point B, if point B didn’t exist yet?
Looking forward to your reply.
Jean
The following ideas have been on my mind for quite some time and are puzzling me to no end.
1. It is known from the special theory of relativity that a photon of light travels at the speed of light no matter whether it’s coming at the observer or moving away from it. In fact even if the observer were to speed at 99% of the speed of light along the photon, that photon would still be seen as going at the speed of light. I’ve seen the time dilation equations, but those equations tell me nothing about why this paradoxical effect takes place. Can someone explain to me the *physical reason* for this?
2. Does space have a shape? What is its constitution? According to General relativity, gravitation is explained by a curve in space-time. This suggests that space has a shape. But, a shape made from what? This isn’t clear since time is nonphysical. Can someone explain to me the *physical reality* of space-time?
3. From point (2), it follows that if space has a shape, then it is constituted of something. In other words, space is made of energy. This is the energy *of* space. Then there is matter and energy *in* space. Some might say that space isn’t made of anything. If so, then matter and energy travel through nothing. If so, then space is an illusion. That doesn’t seem plausible. So space’s fabric is of energy. Can someone explain to me what space is made of?
4. Related to point (3), the moment after the Big Bang, the universe expanded with energy. Since there was nothing physical before the Big Bang, then that energy expanded into nothing. Is that possible physically? For instance, how could the universe expand from point A to point B, if point B didn’t exist yet?
Looking forward to your reply.
Jean