Question

If our world was just a 3dimensional cross section of a larger 4 dimensional world could you turn a left hand into a right hand by rotating it through the 4th dimension?

Answer 1

Is the observer inside the cross-section, rotating with it? In that case no.

But if the observer disappeared for a second and then returned to their original position after the rotation was complete, then the answer would be yes.

Answer 2

There is a book you may want to read.  Flatland by Abbott

Answer 3

Yes.

Easier example. Say you have a 2d object, like a snowflake. Within 2d you can only rotate it clockwise or anticlockwise. If we put it in 3d, we can also rotate ut around the x, y or z axis and thus make a mirrored version.


Similar in 3d. Say you have a solved rubiks cube. Within the 3d space, you can never rotate it so only 2 sides change place (say yellow and white (which are opposite)). However, if we move to the 4th dimension, such a rotation is possible and we now have a mirrored rubiks cube.

Answer 4

Ok I haven't taken linear algebra yet and I am dumb when it comes to math  but what ?

 Shouldn't the whole world be 4 dimensional ? Or you think it's a subspace of a 4d world ? But even so  we shouldn't be able to move into the 4th dimension cause we are part of the subspace

Sorry if I sounded dumb , as i said i haven't taken linear algebra yet .

Answer 5

Yes I think? Or actually maybe it would be inside out I don’t know