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-   -   Do parallel lines ever meet? (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=337755)

  • Apr 4, 2009, 10:46 AM
    survivorboi
    Do parallel lines ever meet?
    OKay, consider this:

    If 2 parallel lines fall into a black hole, will the meet (or intersect)? Since black hole squeeze space and time together, I think that the parallel line will eventually meet.
  • Apr 4, 2009, 11:14 AM
    Capuchin

    You don't need something as exotic as black holes - 2 parallel lines on the equator of the earth will meet at the poles. It's a result of the earth's positively curved geometry.
  • Apr 4, 2009, 11:22 AM
    survivorboi

    Wow! Thanks
  • Apr 4, 2009, 02:15 PM
    Perito
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by survivorboi View Post
    If 2 parallel lines fall into a black hole, will the meet (or intersect)? Since black hole squeeze space and time together, I think that the parallel line will eventually meet.

    Parallel lines only exist in Euclidean space. There is no concept of black holes in Euclidean space. The squeezing of space and time has not been defined in that space.

    By definition, parallel lines never meet. Your hypothetical question is not possible to answer.
  • Apr 6, 2009, 12:13 PM
    ngasnier
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Capuchin View Post
    You don't need something as exotic as black holes - 2 parallel lines on the equator of the earth will meet at the poles. It's a result of the earth's positively curved geometry.

    In the case of lines intesecting at the poles, then they wernt really parallel in the first place.

    The very definition of "parallel" means that they don't intersect
  • Apr 6, 2009, 01:01 PM
    Capuchin
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ngasnier View Post
    In the case of lines intesecting at the poles, then they wernt really parallel in the first place.

    The very definition of "parallel" means that they dont intersect

    You're right, but I was trying to explain it simply and perhaps muddled my terms - I meant 2 lines on the equator that initially appeared to be parallel - i.e. 2 lines at right angles to the equator.
  • Jun 2, 2009, 11:45 AM
    Capuchin

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by stratmando
    A car driving around the equator leaves 2 parallel lines and DON'T meet at the poles. Balancer

    And? The lines have to be parallel at the equator, but neither of the lines touch the equator. This is not the case I specified..
  • Jun 2, 2009, 11:57 AM
    DrJ

    If two lines are TRULY parallel, they will never meet or intersect each other... however, they may loop back around to meet themselves
  • Jun 2, 2009, 01:52 PM
    galactus
    As we know, parallel lines do not intersect in Euclidean space. But, in positively curved

    Spacetime, they do. In negatively curved spacetime, they get farther apart.
  • Jun 2, 2009, 01:57 PM
    ZoeMarie

    Parallel lines must be located in the same plane. The earth is round...
  • Jun 2, 2009, 03:53 PM
    Capuchin
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ZoeMarie View Post
    parallel lines must be located in the same plane. the earth is round...

    Thanks for the correction, you're correct, parallel lines don't exist on a spherical surface, by definition.
  • Jun 2, 2009, 04:13 PM
    galactus
    But the original query was about black holes, not the Earth. A whole nuther matter.
  • Jun 3, 2009, 03:08 AM
    Capuchin

    I think the best answer is "Parallel lines don't exist because space-time is not Euclidean" :p
  • Feb 7, 2012, 02:24 PM
    jurei
    They will meet they will always meet
  • Feb 7, 2012, 02:26 PM
    jurei
    I'm in school they teach us this I now

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