nameta9 Posted August 30, 2005 Posted August 30, 2005 Theoretical Physics in the end is simply a set of numbers (mass, impulse, energy etc.) related to another set through a series of mathematical operations. Has it ever been tried to just set all the physical properties in an n-dimensional space where each dimension is a property and just follow the path of the point and points in this space as they interact ? For example a particle may have n properties (x,y,z,t,mass,spin,energy,mass,impulse, size of particle, etc.) so you set each dimension of the space to correspond to each property, so aside from the typical 4 dimensions of space-time you would have other dimensions corresponding to the energy, another to the mass, another to the velocity, another to spin etc. You would end up with an n-dimensional space where the particle would simply be the path of the point in this space. Could this simplify theoretical physics ? Is this result known ?
insane_alien Posted August 30, 2005 Posted August 30, 2005 that is called making a graph. if it could simplify theoretical physics it would have been done. in some branches of theoretical science graphs are made and can help with experiments where you need to compare predictions to results but are only useful in the latter stages.
nameta9 Posted August 30, 2005 Author Posted August 30, 2005 Yes but I think this exact kind of example has never been done. I mean all kinds of relationships and graphs are done in science, but the idea of putting every physical quantity an elementary particle can have with each quantity on a different axis of an n-dimensional coordinate system may really allow some new research and insight.
oldtobor Posted August 30, 2005 Posted August 30, 2005 No. The dimensions in QM refer to something else. As far as I know N9s idea is new, I have never thought of it before. This may be a revolution......
Severian Posted August 30, 2005 Posted August 30, 2005 No - it is not new. There have been lots of attempts to do this, but none have shown any real pattern (although a few, such as Regge trajectories, have been helpful).
DQW Posted September 8, 2005 Posted September 8, 2005 Also, you should look into generalized coordinates. The idea of using properties like position and (generalized) momentum as coordinates in some phase space is not new. It's been around since the 18th century (Lagrange, Hamilton, and then Poincare').
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