Relativity question

[Tero]

While we are on the topic, is there infinity? I thought so.

[Hermit]

While we are on the topic, is there infinity? I thought so.

Not sure if infinity is on topic with relativity, I've always had a problem with the concept. While you can always add another digit to any series - that is to say you can add to the series indefinitely - you never actually get to infinity. To me it's a metaphysical construct devoid of concrete existence.

[Rum]

I have been trying to educate my feeble maffs and science mind of late, given the Arts background I come from. As hermit says infinity is not related in terms of category to relativity, however I have read a bit about infinity - or the concept of it. It is now used in maffs quite a lot. What is more there are different types of infinity, depending on the way you want to use it. So mathematically yes. If you are asking if the universe is boundless, that is another matter. I am beginning to suspect we don't know as much as we thought we did just a few years ago about its nature.

[FBM]

I'm thinking that infinity is a hypothetical, used as a tool, kinda like imaginary numbers, pi and whatnot.

[Tero]

Well, it's Euclidian. Whenever I discuss lines that are parallel, I make them 10km long. I could make them 1000km long if pressed.

[cronus]

Infinity is a place-holder for things which are too big to be thought about. That's right.