Not exactly the same but 2-dimensional beings on a curved surface can discover the 3rd dimension using math, we did this proof in a differential geometry class.
Ctrl-F for "2D" (2-dimensional creatures), although I can't find the "discovery", maybe I remember it wrong.
Btw, this was one of the mindfucks I learned studying physics. Other ones are:
- dimensional analysis: checking if formulas can be wrong, and more importantly, finding formulas (eg, period of a pendulum) just by analyzing units that can be involved (no constants obv)
- similarly, rate of growths in dimensions: why giants can't exist (bone resistance is proportional to section area and load (weight) is proportional to volume
- Conservation laws derive easily from symmetries (energy from invariance in time, momentum from invariance in direction etc)