Definition:Ordinary Space

Definition

Ordinary space (or just space) is a word used to mean the universe we live in.

The intuitive belief is that space is $3$-dimensional and therefore isomorphic to the real vector space $\R^3$.

Hence ordinary space is usually taken as an alternative term for Euclidean $3$-dimensional space.

Also known as

Ordinary space can also be referred to as physical space but that term is also used in common parlance to mean a particular volume for day-to-day deployment of stuff.

I would love to take my entire collection of cuddly toys on holiday with me to St. Petersburg, but I don't have the physical space in my suitcase.

In a wider sense, the term natural world can be used.

Also see

• Definition:Physical Universe

• Results about ordinary space can be found here.

Linguistic Note

The adjective meaning pertaining to or concerning (ordinary) space is spatial.

Sources

• 1947: William H. McCrea: Analytical Geometry of Three Dimensions (2nd ed.) ... (next): Chapter $\text {I}$: Coordinate System: Directions: $\S 1$. Introductory
• 1947: William H. McCrea: Analytical Geometry of Three Dimensions (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {I}$: Coordinate System: Directions: $\S 1$. Introductory: Nomenclature
• 1952: T. Ewan Faulkner: Projective Geometry (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Introduction: The Propositions of Incidence: $1.2$: The projective method: The propositions of incidence
• 1964: D.E. Rutherford: Classical Mechanics (3rd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text I$: Kinematics: $1$. Space and Time
• 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $3$
• 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $3$
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): dimension: 1.
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): dimension: 1.