: My question would be best stated after this example. You have a pool of water, you throw a stone in that water and notice one thing. The waves that are created are rings that extend in all directions outward. However this only comprises two dimensions because they don't ripple upward or down, only outward. The thing aplying to my question mainly is that the crests and troughs are at a perpendicular axis to the progression of the growing wave itself. This requires a third dimension. A greater amplitude requires more three dimensional space (i.e. A wave created by a gental nudge rather than a tidal wave). Well here's the question......since light progresses out in all three dimensions from its origen, does it then not require a fourth dimension for it's crests and troughs?

Wayne: Only if gravity effects light (and I'm not convinced it does) If there were no gravitational effect on the water in your example, there would be no wave. just a strait line "pulse" for lack of a better word, with no crests or troughs. The upward path of your example would also have waves of different length (if gravity does effect light) because the gravity exerted on them would be from sources that differ from those on the horizontal path. Gets complex don't it.

• Re: Four dimensional crests and troughs... - Zephram_Cochrane/">Zephram Cochrane - November 25, 1999 - 06:17 UTC
  • Re: Four dimensional crests and troughs... - Wayne/">Wayne - November 26, 1999 - 04:02 UTC
    • Re: Four dimensional crests and troughs... - Zephram_Cochrane/">Zephram Cochrane - November 26, 1999 - 08:07 UTC
      • Re: Four dimensional crests and troughs... - Wayne/">Wayne - November 26, 1999 - 16:57 UTC
• Re: Four dimensional crests and troughs... - CL - November 26, 1999 - 02:16 UTC
  • Re: Four dimensional crests and troughs... - Wayne/">Wayne - November 26, 1999 - 04:28 UTC
    • Re: Four dimensional crests and troughs... - Zephram_Cochrane/">Zephram Cochrane - November 26, 1999 - 08:11 UTC