1524: Dimensions

2015-05-13T08:47:56Z

Pier: /* Explanation */ 3 dimensions + 1 or 2 dimensions + 1?

{{comic
| number = 1524
| date = May 13, 2015
| title = Dimensions
| image = dimensions.png
| titletext = I would say time is definitely one of my top three favorite dimensions.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|First version of explanation: revised}}
Our world is {{w|Dimension|3-dimensional}} (like in a box; length, width and height.) But in modern {{w|physics}}, {{w|space}} and {{w|time}} are unified in a four-dimensional continuum called {{w|Spacetime|spacetime}} where time becomes the fourth dimension.

It is to this 4-dimensional spacetime that [[Cueball]] refers in his monologue to [[Megan]], while he is philosophizing about his life in these four dimensions.

What Cueball comments on is that whereas we can, to some extent, determine in which direction we wish to move (at least on the surface of the Earth) in the three dimensions of space (up-down, left-right, forward-backward), we cannot help but being pushed ''inexorably forward'' through time. So it is quite lucky for Cueball that he thinks this is OK.

Being pushed in one of the other directions could be lethal, if you where pushed hard enough against a rock, over a cliff or in front of a truck...

In the title text he then continues to muse about his favorite dimensions and places time in his top three dimensions. This means that one of the three space dimensions would be his least favorite. But in space, there is no difference between the three dimensions. It is only in a fixed reference system that you can assign any difference to these three directions (like on Earth). So this doesn't make any sense. Either time should be his favorite or his least favorite dimension. So if it is in the top three out of four, it must be number one...

Also, Cueball may be referring to a naive "fixed" view of three spatial dimensions in a {{W|Cartesian coordinate system}}, as often seen in geometry textbooks: the X and Y axes forming a horizontal plane and the Z axis being the vertical one. In this case, presumably, his three favorite "dimensions" could be X, Y and time, as he could easily move along these three axes, but moving along the Z axis (e.g. flying over the ground - or falling down a cliff) requires special arrangements or is outright dangerous.

However in {{W|M-theory}}, a theory that unifies all consistent versions of {{w|superstring theory}}, spacetime is eleven-dimensional, which would make a place in the top three a somewhat more interesting position. However, these extra dimensions are not currently detectable.

Previously [[Randall]] has made a comic about a man who was pushed sideways (although still held in place by gravity?) - so he was pushed both through time and to the side: [[417: The Man Who Fell Sideways]]. On a similar note in [[1376: Jump]] Cueball suddenly slides off without falling down after a jump...

The conditional verb used by Cueball suggests a different interpretation: "Of the four dimensions I '''''could''''' have spent my life etc .." but actually Cueball, as a character of a webcomic, has actually spent his entire life in a 3 dimensions universe (height, width and time). So when in the title text he says that time may be in the top three, he may imply that time is still his less favorite dimension

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is sitting up against a tree, Megan lies with her hands behind her neck in front him under the foliage of the tree.]
:Cueball: Of the four dimensions I could have spent my life being pushed inexorably forward through, I guess "time" isn't the worst.

{{comic discussion}}



[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Time]]
[[Category:Space]]

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1524: Dimensions