Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Science
  4. / Mathematics
  5. / Geometry

by Highlander is semi-retired from AB on November 17th, 2007

Highlander is semi-retired from AB

Question

Help answer this question below.

How do we really know that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line? Is it possible space can be folded?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. Showing one answer.

  • by Farino on November 19th, 2007

    Farino

    The folding of the time-space continuum doesn't really affect the distance between the two points because one would have to leave the fabric at your 'A' point and go through 'hyper-space' onto the fabric at point 'B'. Even if that distance is zero one would need to escape the fabric itself. The only way to do so is with a wormhole. No-one can create a wormhole because you cannot 'tear' the fabric, thus cannot create a path from one place to another through it. Wormholes can originally exist in the fabric and be moved around to fit between A and B but not created.

    The distance between A and B can be 'stretched' or 'squashed'! The area of space around a cosmic string for example gets coned and the area around two cosmic strings passing will become even more coned. At some point the distance around the circumference of the cone will become shorter than the distance half way along the edge of the curved surface of the cone. So sometimes the shortest distance between A and B is in fact a 'round the houses' curve!

    In Euclidean geometry of course the shortest distance from A to B will be the straight line between them!

    Comments

    • Thanks

      Highlander is semi-retired from AB

      by Highlander is semi-retired from AB on November 19th, 2007

    • You need not postulate points jumping into hyperspace, or escape or leave the "fabric." Take any plane piece of paper, label points A and B, draw your straight line. Now fold the paper so that point A hovers over point B, crease and Whoa! Your straight line disappears into "the fabric" "the plane" and becomes a point. Like it or not, this method will earn you pocket money from the wager.
      Instant portable wormhole with plane paper you can fold like money.

      piercearrow

      by piercearrow on December 29th, 2010

    • Like
    • Report

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading How do we really know that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line? Is it possible space can be folded?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

Answerbag

a Demand Media company