I stumbled across this online film about how to see in four dimensions, and I just had to share it with all of you. I never thought I would be able to sit through a two hour movie on mathematics. Hell, I didn't even take algebra in high school, I hated math so much. But I shit you not... I was glued to the screen the whole time. The film starts with a simple, but engagingly well done, explanation of the first, second and third dimensions, and then it starts to show you how it might be possible for us to perceive a fourth dimension and beyond.
I first got interested in this idea when I read hotaka's post Trying to See the Fourth Dimension. He talked about a book called Flatland, where all the characters are two dimensional and can only see three dimensional objects in two dimensions... for example, a sphere would be perceived as a circle, but as the sphere moved through the two dimensional world, its size would change according to the circumference of the sphere. This film gives some amazing visuals on that concept, and you'll have to pay attention, because there is a test!
They also bring interesting art into the equation with an analysis of one of M.C. Escher's famous prints. But that's the 2D stuff. Wait until you get into the higher dimensions and start seeing the fractal patterns! Absolutely beautiful! This film should win an award if it hasn't already.. I wish they would have taught math like this when I was in school. (although, I wonder if anyone knew what a fractal was when I was in school, back in the stone ages...lol)
Anyway, without further ado, here is the link. Check it out and let me know what you think.
http://www.dimensions-math.org/Dim_E.htm
kruuyai posted on Mar 11, 2009
| views: 179
Comments
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kruuyai said on Mar 11, 2009....
By the way, I have to say, I'm not entirely convinced that what they are showing is actually a fourth dimension. I mean, when you think about it, even though they are using different axes than x, y and z, every point in these shapes can still be defined by their position relative to the x, y and z axes, can they not? Or am I missing something? -
CreativeWoman said on Mar 11, 2009....
I will have to check that out. I'm a little intimidated by complicated math though.
CW
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kruuyai said on Mar 11, 2009....
CW: I should have added that they make it so easy with visuals that you won't even notice that you're doing math most of the time (until you get to the other dimensions beyond the 4th... you might want to stop the film while you check the calculations if you feel a need to). But even without following the math, which is a minor part of the film, you can still enjoy the great graphics and the intriguing ideas behind them. Have fun! -
mobil said on Mar 11, 2009....
Hey Kru, this is interesting, I've begun watching, but don't have time to finish now. I will though, this is so well done. Thanks.... -
kruuyai said on Mar 11, 2009....
mobil: You're welcome. I'm glad you're enjoying it. -
pickersplock said on Mar 11, 2009....
OK, I'll be back to check it out! -
mobil said on Mar 11, 2009....
I'm moving along through it Kru, it's interesting how they've divided it all into nice clean segments. -
Twylarants said on Mar 11, 2009....
I watched the trailer tonight and found it fascinating. I'll download the 2 hour movie to watch on my next day off. Thanks for posting it, Kru. -
rupert7 said on Mar 11, 2009....
Oh I hate maths! but I will come back and watch this. -
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hotaka said on Mar 12, 2009....
I was just dropping in to post something I have been meaning to post for two weeks now and I stumbled across this. As you can imagine, it caught my eye right away and I am sure going to try to watch the film if only in snippets when I can spare a bit of time. I immediately thought to say, "Hey, I wrote a post about that," but, dear Kruu, you already gave me credit. Well, hopefully your post and this film will inspire more people. I am looking forward to viewing it. Now I should get on with my post. I don't have long before I have to catch a train. -
destinydiva said on Mar 12, 2009....
I'm bookmarking to check it out, sounds interesting!! :-0 how was your trip to the carribian? and the spiritual thingy ..did you do that yet? how was it? I must check back in your blog..hope your well, love des xxx -
gingersoul said on Mar 12, 2009....
Kruu .....you sure have all the time in the world...lol..But i don't... i will watch it this week end for sure though.....Hottie.....CIAO!!!! -
kruuyai said on Mar 12, 2009....
pickers: Cool! I can't think of anything I'd rather do on a rainy day.
mobil: It is nicely done. Let me know what you think when you finish.
Twyla: You're welcome. Come on back and let us know how you liked it.
rupert: You can ignore the math and just sit back and enjoy the show. They really don't focus much on the math.
anon: Not really, but thanks for asking.
hotaka: I was hoping you would see this. Now, I'm going to have to pop over and see what you've been up to.
destiny: I hope you like it. I haven't been to the Caribbean in years, but I did go to the Canary Islands in January (they're part of Spain and are just off the coast of Africa). It was cold and windy and rainy most of the time (I guess that's why the tickets were so cheap... lol), but it was still warmer than here, and it was good to get out into nature. The spiritual thingy was awesome, but I don't think I've blogged about it yet, and I'm off to do the second part already next week (actually, it's a few weeks before I start part 2, but I'm going there to do a work exchange for a couple of weeks first). I'm so behind on my blogging. I haven't even finished blogging about that esoteric workshop I did in Spain last summer. I think I need to hire a secretary! Know anybody who wants the job?
ginger: I do! I do! And I love it! In one day, I watched a great political documentary, this film about the fourth dimension, some videos about Sacred Geometry, and read a few more Chapters in the Secret Teachings of All Ages, a religious history of the world from a mystical point of view. If only learning had been this fun in school!