The Fourth Dimension: Why Our 3D-Bound Minds Struggle to See It
“The concept of a 4D world beyond our familiar 3D reality has long fascinated mathematicians, physicists, philosophers and science fiction writers alike. While we are limited to perceiving and moving within 3 spatial dimensions, mathematics allows us to logically conceptualize spaces with 4 or more dimensions. Visualizing these higher dimensional worlds often requires expanding our mental models. In this article, we will explore what a 4D world may be like, how we can attempt to imagine it, and the challenges in conceiving this truly alien realm.”
Our observable universe exists in 3 spatial dimensions — length, width and depth. A fourth spatial dimension can be described mathematically as an axis perpendicular to all points in 3D space over time. Some refer to time as a 4th dimension, but true 4D space would involve another spatial dimension beyond time. While we cannot physically experience or observe a 4th spatial dimension, we can study 4D space mathematically and expand our perspective through thought experiments.
Just as how a 2D world with only length and width is limited compared to a 3D world with depth, a 4D world would contain relationships beyond our 3D perceptions. It would have an extra degree of freedom for objects and beings to move and relationships to exist. The properties of physics in 4D…
