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From: cramer%ti-csl.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: re:re:Big Bang Source
Message-ID: <12261@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 13-Apr-84 05:02:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.12261
Posted: Fri Apr 13 05:02:00 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 12-May-84 07:18:43 EDT
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From:      Nichael Cramer <cramer%ti-csl.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa>


> An interesting mapping onto the surface of an expanding (pitted) balloon are
> the three spacial dimentions.  Time is the dimention at right angles to the
> surface...  I would expect to find the origin of a big bang somewhere near
> the center...
>                -- modeler of nothing

	Your second point illustrates my point exactly.  i.e. that there is no
point IN the universe from which the primordial fireball expanded; keeping
in mind the important distinction that it is the two dimensional surface
that represents the model of expanding spacetime and not the interior space
enclosed by the ballon.  (In point of fact, the point in the center of the
balloon is 'inside' the balloon only because we poor creatures are trapped 
in 3-space, just as a point inside a circle appears to 'contained' by a 
circle to a flatlander, a point of view that looks naive to us.)
	HOWEVER, and more importantly, the first point you raise is precisely
the issue that prompted the original message.  The 2-space of the surface
of the expanding balloon does NOT represent our own 3-space (with one
suppressed dimension) expanding out through time.  Rather, it (with obvious
limitations) models an expanding spacetime with TWO dimensions suppressed.