What if there is no infinity?

Comments

• No, it would just ply a great circle through space like an airplane on earth does in going from point to point in the shortest possible distance.

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• +6

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  by -NUNYA-- on April 18th, 2009

• So,,, would that be the Jimbo Theory that the entire universe is in rotation?

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  by Heather108 on April 18th, 2009

• The planetary systems are in orbit, Galaxies are in orbit and the entire universe is in an orbit. All in ever expanding but inperceptably slow rates of expansion. +6.

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  by Suby the Coat on April 18th, 2009

• Thanks, and I consider myself instructed.

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  by Heather108 on April 18th, 2009

• I never realized how great an instructor I am till I saw your comment, heather!

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  by Suby the Coat on April 18th, 2009

• LOL - I really proud and happy for you Suby... ;~)

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  by Heather108 on April 18th, 2009

• I am happy. Thanks. Lols.

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  by Suby the Coat on April 18th, 2009

• I looked up your page, heather. Two points I would like to share.
  1. You appear to be downrating a lot of questions and answers. Your overall +% is 94. Questions it is 72 and answers it is 94. I suggest you stop downrating Qs and As that you find unhelpful. Instead post your opinion in answers or comments. Gradually your +% will rise and you will touch the 100 +% mark. People have a poor opinion of member with a poor +%.
  .
  2. The link you have given in your profile is revealing. I read the first few pages. Then bookmarked the C.com. Goes to show how little people like me know about anatomy. We are here to learn new things, at the end of the day, after all.
  Thank you.

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  by Suby the Coat on April 18th, 2009

• Thanks, but I don't remember down rating any questions, maybe several comments, but a good number of my answers and comments have had down votes. There's not much I can do about my opinions, I own'em and I'm somewhat hard headed about some things.

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  by Heather108 on April 18th, 2009

• I went through the questions you have asked this far. I must agree you have your own opinions. Cheers to that.
  Others downrating your questions or answers will affect only their +%, not yours.
  I just mentioned it so that you will keep the +% in mind from now on.
  I visited the store. But I live in India and can't buy any of the stuff that is for sale there. I am not aware of any online shop that caters to the general public in India. Doesn't really matter, in any case.
  I am still in the learning process of what is all available where!

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  by Suby the Coat on April 18th, 2009

• Suby, please go back to my profile to the "My Points" section. At the bottom of that box is a tab "See Points History" that show all my rating points given. Please count my down votes.

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  by Heather108 on April 19th, 2009

Comments

• The expanding universe is accelerating its expansion. Perhaps it will race on forever leaving behind a Big Nothing. But maybe space itself is warped so that as it seems to reach the outer limits of expansion, ot wraps back around into itself at the point of the Big Bang, and boom, Play it again, Sam. So if it wraps back around, what it beyond the wrap? Nothing. No infinity. how disappointing.

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• +6

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  by -NUNYA-- on April 18th, 2009

• I've often thought that space, having a substance like nature, much like heat or energy, goes to where it isn't. That would be two places, absolute nothing and where ever matter is so dense, there is less of it. So at the outer reaches of the universe, space would be accelerating at a faster rate than further in, except possibly in one other place; the very near proximity to absolute matter.

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  by Kravenhead on April 18th, 2009

• That being said, if space has an influence on the matter suspended in it, like a particle suspended in a stream, and time is interwoven into the fabric of space, it would go a long way in explaining a number of things, such as dark matter and why things seem to change so dramatically at the subatomic level, where possibly this force equalizes and possibly reverses. I also think that electromagnetism may play a role in altering the direction, velocity and density of space. Idle thoughts.=0]

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  by Kravenhead on April 18th, 2009

• Thanks NUNYA!

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  by Kravenhead on April 18th, 2009

• Thanks Kravenhead. Fascinating stuff to think about.

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• I was just about to say that .... what Kravenhead said. ; )

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  by Vintage... on April 18th, 2009

• Great thoughts.
  But I will go with what was said in the Vedas 10000 years ago - 'Ananta Aakasa' - meaning Space in Infinite and endless.
  But what you say about sub atomic particle physics or quantum physics is interesting food for thought, Kravenhead. +6.

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  by Suby the Coat on April 18th, 2009

• I was very vague, but thanks Suby. For me imagining space as something not static but very active and interactive with the things in it, helps me to visualize, at least in terms I can understand, why these anomalies (Dark Matter, Dark Energy and the discrepancies involved in unification) might be; even expected to be. So I guess, whether these visualizations are correct or not, isn't so important, but that they restore a sense of grace and order to some seemingly very contrary behaviors is. I've just reduced something that is of yet beyond understanding, to a simple visualization of something I can. I enjoy looking for patterns in what appears chaotic. I believe they're there, and that allows me a sense of wellbeing.

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  by Kravenhead on April 19th, 2009

• Take a look at the spidron images, if you like visualization. Plenty to wonder at here. As I don't understand the language, I just clik away and see all the images and how they change. It is a very complex form of Geometry. But no need to understand the Geometry of it. You could visualize and wonder and at the complexities, Kravenhead.
  .
  http://www.spidron.hu/

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  by Suby the Coat on April 19th, 2009

• That send chills down my back. Thanks so much for posting the link.

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 19th, 2009

• Did you see them, Jim? The creator of the images is a member of the Answerbag. His profile name is edanet. He is from Budapest, Hungary.
  He must be your age judging from his pictures. He will be visiting the US this month end for a conference on spidron. You could email him. A very friendly gentleman, from my experience.
  .
  http://www.answerbag.com/profile/?id=208198

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  by Suby the Coat on April 19th, 2009

• Thanks Suby! Those are some very interesting and beautiful creations.

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  by Kravenhead on April 20th, 2009

• Reminds me of M. C. Escher's art.

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 20th, 2009

• Yes, the repeated use of forms in groupings to create other forms, designs and optical illusions.

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  by Kravenhead on April 20th, 2009

• This is the branch of Geometry that is called Spidron. Very interesting. Pity there is no English site to explain it to us.

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  by Suby the Coat on April 20th, 2009

• I found the issue of Scientific American magazine from 1977 that featured Spidron cover art and article on ebay. The opening bid was $12.95 for all 12 1977 issues.

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  by Kravenhead on April 20th, 2009

• Fascinating! I would have thought it would have fetched higher bids.
  LP music records of the 70s are going for much higher bids- + $100. That at a time when record players are not being produced any longer.

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  by Suby the Coat on April 20th, 2009

• I was surprised too. I just looked at a copy I have dated Feb. 2008 and it retailed for $4.99. I'm guessing that opening bid of $12.95 is pretty close to what the cover price was for 12 issues in '77. Now if it were Playboy or a Spiderman comic, it'd be a whole different story. I guess people like collecting pop culture. They don't seem to feel the same nostalgia for yesterday's science.

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  by Kravenhead on April 20th, 2009

• You are right. I am a member of Ebay India. Here too the trends are same as what you describe.

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  by Suby the Coat on April 21st, 2009

• "LP music records of the 70s are going for much higher bids- + $100." =
  -
  Rly, Suby?! I gotta check that out!
  I was an obsessive little pr*ck with my albums, hard-core classic R&R from ~'66 on, and lotsa jazz fusion when R&R became a little stinky for me in the late '70's.
  But the bummer about even checking the value of an album is, like, what difference does it make? Except if you're bent toward paranoia, you've now more to 'protect'? No visible 'upside'.
  -
  BTW Jim: Guess what? = I thought of Escher too. ;-)
  -
  ;-)

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  by philosopher-saint on November 22nd, 2009

• Ever read Escher, Godel and Bach, Eternal Golden Braid?

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on November 23rd, 2009

Comments

• Ha! Cogent comment. A lot of 9s.

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• +6

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  by -NUNYA-- on April 18th, 2009

Comments

• Great idea anyway. :)

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• Yes it is!

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  by Cognition aka Cog on April 18th, 2009

• +6 You've got mail Cog!

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  by -NUNYA-- on April 18th, 2009

• Okey dokey!

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  by Cognition aka Cog on April 18th, 2009

• Thanks! :-)

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  by -NUNYA-- on April 18th, 2009

Comments

• Divide by zero is excluded. +6

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• +6

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  by -NUNYA-- on April 18th, 2009

• Agree with the zero part, but unity would probably remain.

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  by weatherman taking week or so off on April 20th, 2009

• weatherman; are u talking about infinitely dividing down a point?

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  by Jess on April 20th, 2009

• If so, there is no more proof an infinitely expanding or diminishing number set won't curve back into its origin point than there is that infinitely expanding space/time won't wrap back around into its origin.

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 20th, 2009

• I think the concept of one (a singularity) would remain even if there were no zero or infinity.

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  by weatherman taking week or so off on April 21st, 2009

• Agreed.

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 21st, 2009

Comments

• Indeed. If there is no infinity, then we humans did just that, or we couldn't be having this discussion.

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 20th, 2009

Comments

• There is that problem to deal with. :)

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• +6

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  by -NUNYA-- on April 18th, 2009

Comments

• Now wait just a minute. I can entertain the possibility infinity is just a hoax, but Santa! No way!!!

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• +6

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  by -NUNYA-- on April 18th, 2009

• Just said that as a theory - I am not about to argue the point that it is so. Enjoy the holidays.

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  by dumdum on April 18th, 2009

• Thanks. Don't break a little boy's heart. :)

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

Comments

• Huh. Isn't that where you live? :)

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• +6

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  by -NUNYA-- on April 18th, 2009

Comments

• No way. You have to have an "in" and then a "finity" to put in it to even hope to get infinity.

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• All pieces are imaginary, the divisions exist only in your mind.

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  by Mosexy on April 18th, 2009

• Maybe infinity exists only in our minds too.

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• In a time-space energy matrix, infinity is all that really exists. Now, if you want to say that matrix itself doesn't exist, that time is actually simultaneous, that's another matter.

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  by Mosexy on April 18th, 2009

• I'm not so sure. Why?

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• Time-space is infinite. Cosmologists figure there is a finite amount of matter in the universe, and this amount of matter is inadequate to cause a gravitational 'big crunch'. So time-space will continue on forever. In fact, matter itself will become infinitely fragmented and ceases to exist as we know it. They call that the 'big rip' theory.

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  by Mosexy on April 18th, 2009

• See this discussion. http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6235886

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

Comments

• Reasonable outlook. +6

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• +6

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  by -NUNYA-- on April 18th, 2009

Comments

• The concept is not in question. What's in question is the reality. But Cricket matches are far more fun to contemplate. +6

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• +6

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  by -NUNYA-- on April 18th, 2009

• Now that I have gone through all the answers, I must agree most with the top two answers which I too rated.
  You are right Jim. We had 2 excellent 20/20 matches. Both had surprise upsets.
  Cricket matches are better to watch. Here there is nothing to contemplate on. Just take in and enjoy what the TV screen shows.
  Now again I have time only for this question of yours this morning. I must leave for other work.
  So finit is my world! Makes me wonder.

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  by Suby the Coat on April 18th, 2009

Comments

• The idea would be that space at its extremes curves back into its origin. If that is so, then so would escalating numbers. This is an important question, because if it proves to be true, it hold out promise for the US National Debt. :)

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• +6

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  by -NUNYA-- on April 18th, 2009

Comments

• Why?

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• +6

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  by -NUNYA-- on April 18th, 2009

• because the world is full of infinite things that we do not even know about. Infinity is not just a number...

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  by faithiskey on April 18th, 2009

• The world is full of things that appear infinite. We really can only conceptualize that they do actually go on forever. It is equally possible that something extended toward infinity curves back into its own origin before getting there.

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

Comments

• Teachers in schools teach lots of things. Some right, some later proven to be wrong. What's your point?

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on November 1st, 2009

• I read a lot of questions over and over
  and again about infinity, formulated like
  there was ONLY ONE infinity and not stating
  what they mean. A general, abstract infinity
  that You would think about by default is just
  a symbol and it's impossible for it not to
  exist in mathematics.
  It's like if you asked:
  "What if there is no number 5?"
  .
  If You're talking about the measure of something
  specific as being limited in contrast to being
  infinite, You must state what are You talking about?
  The diameter of the World? The length of time?
  If You don't specify what you mean, the question
  has no sense.

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  by Anonymous T on November 2nd, 2009

Comments

• That seems unlikely. But even if it's so, it's more fun to contemplate there not being any infinity.

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on November 1st, 2009

Comments

• That warps my noodle. If there is no infinity, then there is stuff in infinity. Heavy!

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on November 1st, 2009

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• Thanks. And the Catholic Church's dogma has been wrong on enough things now that I am willing to allow the possibility they're wrong about that on too.

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on May 27th, 2009

• Jim: thank you for your feedback!
  :-)

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  by iwnit on May 27th, 2009

• +6. I must have missed it on first pass, and that was a great, detailed answer.

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on May 27th, 2009

Comments

• Best answer. +6

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on May 27th, 2009

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• No, it would be more like saying there isn't infinite time. And since time/space are related, if there isn't infinite space there isn't infinite time either.

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 25th, 2009

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• We may not know in our lifetime but it is fascinating to contemplate. Thanks.

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 20th, 2009

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• Seems right. :)

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 20th, 2009

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• Ha! Great answer. :)

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 20th, 2009

• Great question!

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  by wing.walker on April 20th, 2009

Comments

• How about at the beginning?

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 20th, 2009

• Phewww! Too deep for me!

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  by Timjon on April 21st, 2009

• The end, then. :)

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 21st, 2009

• Yah, at least for now :)

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  by Timjon on April 21st, 2009

Comments

• Ha! We require infinite room to avoid that?

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• I would think so...if we infinitely keep breeding and we are confined to a certain conscribed area, eventually it fills up. If we have infinite time but not infinite space we'll end up deader 'n doornails! Of course we end up dead in any event, sooner or later. Happy Sunday! :)

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  by RosieGHM Jetpacker on April 19th, 2009

Comments

• Good point! +6

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• invis. +6

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  by -NUNYA-- on April 18th, 2009

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• Ya got me there. :)

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

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• Infinity as a concept. But here I'm questioning infinity as a reality. And 1/0 describes the problem. It collapses back into itself when you try to execute the calculation. You are left only with the concept that it produced an infinity.

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

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• Thanks NUNYA. I believe that it is infinitely possible ther is no infinity. :)

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

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• Infinite disagreement?

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  by Jim in a Nautilus COAT on April 18th, 2009

• invis. +6

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  by -NUNYA-- on April 18th, 2009

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