[lafroste]

What would the fourth dimension be?

The generally accepted answer is that the fourth dimension is time. The more interesting question is "what is the fifth dimension?" (And no smart remarks about the musical group please)

[AUgrad]

The generally accepted answer is that the fourth dimension is time. The more interesting question is "what is the fifth dimension?" (And no smart remarks about the musical group please)

You're getting over my head. I don't understand how time could be a dimension in this sense.

[gjenkins]

"The more interesting question is "what is the fifth dimension?"


That is a good question.

[TopQuark]

The generally accepted answer is that the fourth dimension is time. The more interesting question is "what is the fifth dimension?" (And no smart remarks about the musical group please)

No one knows, of course. I just wanted to mention that the scientists need not add dinmensions one at a time. Your remark reminded me of a model (in statistical mechanics) from long ago that calculated the behavior of a system in... 27 dimensions (yes, there were reasons for the choice of that number). You may also hear a statement along the lines, "We know this phase transition occurs above eleven and below six dimensions. What happens in between is an open question."

So, one need not assume that the next "big" change in paradigm, if it affects the dimensionality at all, will add just one dimension.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Time is rather iffy as it is subject to the "red-shift" of Einsteinian relativity.  The LWH dimensions (at least, as far as I know) are constant no matter where you are in relationship to anyone else (at least in this universe).

I will admit that in theory, at least, you can have unlimited dimensions (otherwise, why calculus?).  But a more interesting aspect to this discussion is what would happen if you could temporarily collapse the perceivable 3 dimensions to 2 in a small area.  It appears that this has better possibilities for actual teleporting.  OTOH, this entanglement teleporting thing may be a boon to medical science.  Imagine teleporting cancer or Ebola out of a patient's body.