Four-dimensional space-time
March 7 | Posted by falian | Science Tags: Four-dimensional space-timeSpecial relativity is less definite than classical physics in that both the distance D and time interval T between two events depend on the observer. Einstein noted, however, that a particular combination of D and T, the quantity D2 − c2T2, has the same value for all observers.
The term cT in this invariant quantity elevates time to a kind of mathematical parity with space. Noting this, the German mathematical physicist Hermann Minkowski showed that the universe resembles a four-dimensional structure with coordinates x, y, z, and ct representing length, width, height, and time, respectively. Hence, the universe can be described as a four-dimensional space-time continuum, a central concept in general relativity.
