Imagine that time travel really is possible, and you get to meet Albert Einstein. As you talk with him, you summarize what you think you understand about his theory of relativity as follows: "Space, being represented by a three-dimensional sphere, can be curved inward under an object with mass." How would you expect Einstein to react to this summarization?

Question

Imagine that time travel really is possible, and you get to meet Albert Einstein. As you talk with him, you summarize what you think you understand about his theory of relativity as follows: "Space, being represented by a three-dimensional sphere, can be curved inward under an object with mass." How would you expect Einstein to react to this summarization?

He would correct you and explain that space, rather than being represented by a three-dimensional sphere, is actually represented by a flat grid.
He would agree with most of your statement but correct you that space can only be curved by objects with a mass greater than 2 AU
He would agree with everything you said, appreciate the metaphor, and continue the conversation
He would remind you that space cannot be represented by tangible metaphors like this because it is 5-dimensional and beyond our comprehension.

Answer 1

The fourth option is the most likely reaction from Einstein. Einstein would emphasize that space cannot be accurately represented by tangible metaphors, as it is beyond our comprehension and extends beyond the three spatial dimensions we are familiar with. He would acknowledge the difficulty in visualizing or representing space accurately, especially when it comes to understanding its curvature under the influence of mass.