ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Spacetime algebra

Okay, imagine you have a very big playground and lots of toys to play with. When we play, we usually move from one place to another, and sometimes we also rotate or twist around. But imagine if you want to describe all these movements using only one tool, so it's easy to keep track of everything. That tool is called Spacetime Algebra.

Spacetime Algebra is like a big container that can hold all the movements we make in a special way. It combines the idea of space (where everything is) and time (when everything happens) into one thing. Think about a big toy box that has different compartments, and you can use them to keep various toys separate.

Now, in Spacetime Algebra, we have different "compartments" or "dimensions" where we can keep different types of information. For example, we can have one for time and three for the x, y, and z directions in space. This way, we can keep track of where we are and when we are there.

But there's more! Spacetime Algebra also lets us mix different "compartments" together, just like when you mix two colors of paint. When we mix dimensions together, we get new dimensions that describe more complicated movements. For example, we can combine a rotation in space with a movement in time to get a rotation that happens over time.

Scientists and mathematicians use Spacetime Algebra to describe the movements of objects in the universe, like planets and stars. It's a very powerful tool because it lets us do complex calculations with just a few rules.

So, to sum it all up, Spacetime Algebra is like a big container that helps us keep track of all the possible movements we can make in space and time. We can separate and mix different "compartments" together to create new movements, making it easier to understand and calculate how objects move in the universe.