I explained to someone I know about General Relativity (as much as I know).
He said that he didn't see how it could be correct.
He argued:
How is 4-dimensional space-time space different to 3-dimensional space? he doesn't agree that as that because the 4-dimensional space-time is only different to 3-dimensions because of the added time dimension. he doesn't think that the added dimension of time would change the space of the system (so 3-dimensional space therefore wouldn't be different to 4-dimensional) because they both still have 3 spacial dimensions, just space-time has an added dimension of time.
I said there will be an explanation to how an added dimension of time would change the spacial structure. is there?
Best Answer
Mark's answer is good. Let me just try to put it in what might be simpler terms.
Suppose a flash of light A occurs at a place $(x_1,y_1,z_1)$ and time $t_1$, and another flash B occurs in a different place $(x_2,y_2,z_2)$ and a different time $t_2$.
Suppose $x = (x_2-x_1)$, $y = (y_2-y_1)$, $z = (z_2-z_1)$, and $t = (t_2-t_1)$. So $x$ is the distance between A and B on the x-axis, $y$ on the y-axis, and $z$ on the z-axis.
Now the spatial distance between A and B is $\sqrt{x^2+y^2+z^2}$. That's simple enough - it's just the pythagorean theorem, and it works for any number of spatial dimensions. Now suppose you rotate or twist the x, y, and z coordinate system any way you like. The spatial distance remains the same, even though $x$, $y$, and $z$ are all trading off against each other.
If you want to include time as a dimension just like the others, you'd still like to be able to twist and turn the coordinate system any way you like without changing the 4-dimensional distance between A and B.
It turns out you can't just add $t^2$ under the square root. But you can subtract it. If you use $\sqrt{x^2+y^2+z^2-t^2}$ as the measure of distance, it does work.
Of course, you have to use equal-length rulers on all the axes. If you measure space in feet, you have to measure time in nanoseconds, which is the time it takes light to travel one foot (roughly). Thank Einstein and friends for that.