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macrosphere-physics

The chapter explores the unique gravitational and electrostatic forces in a five-dimensional universe, where inverse-square laws become inverse-fourth-power, affecting orbital stability.

1 chapter across 1 book

Diaspora (1997)Greg Egan

Chapter 21

In this chapter, Paolo and Orlando visit the Great Macrosphere Exhibition where they explore the physics and chemistry of a five-dimensional universe, focusing on the unusual gravitational and electrostatic forces that govern it. They examine models demonstrating the absence of stable orbits, the altered behavior of particles, and the implications for atomic and molecular structures, highlighting the challenges of building a functioning polis in such an environment. The chapter delves into the fundamental differences in particle physics and cosmology in the macrosphere, emphasizing the precariousness and novelty of life and technology there.