The Hyperbolic Geometry Of Velocities Viewed Through Systemic Functional Linguistics

Penrose (2004: 48):

For the space of velocities, according to modern relativity theory, is certainly a three-dimensional hyperbolic geometry, rather than the Euclidean one that would hold in the older Newtonian theory. This helps us to understand some of the puzzles of relativity. For example, imagine a projectile hurled forward, with near light speed, from a vehicle that also moves forwards with comparable speed past a building. Yet, relative to that building, the projectile can never exceed light speed. Though this seems impossible, we shall see that it finds a direct explanation in terms of hyperbolic geometry.

Blogger Comments:

From the perspective of Systemic Functional Linguistic Theory, the hyperbolic geometry of velocities is not the geometry of space, but the geometry of motion through space.