An issue with time and how we fit in

  • Thread starter Victor.Nyeste
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Fit Time
In summary, the current thought is that we are 3-dimensional beings moving along a 4th dimensional line, but we exist only as points on the line and it is impossible to traverse every point. From here, it is possible that we jump from point to point on our timeline, but this results in our existence not existing in totality. There is currently no consensus about what time fundamentally is, or what the nature of time is.
  • #1
Victor.Nyeste
2
0
Hi, I'm a new member who has just embarked on my journey into Quantum Mechanics and String Theory. I was a grade A student in contemporary high school physics, however i am aware that i have a lot to catch up on (i assure you the textbooks are on order), so please don't attack me if the answer to my question is simple.

The current thought to the best of my knowledge is that we are 3ed dimensional beings, moving along in the 4th dimension of time. Our movement is linear from our creation to our death, however at any moment we exist only as a point on this line. My understanding is that a point takes up no space on the line and that 2 points on a line have infinite points between them. therefore it is imposible to traverse every point on our timeline. From here i thought that perhaps we merely jump from point to point on our timeline, existing within a finite number of points. A finite number of points which in themselves take up no length of time, results in our entirety of existence to, well simply not exist.

Has string theory or any other theory redescribed time to solve this dillema?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Victor.Nyeste said:
...2 points on a line have infinite points between them. therefore it is imposible to traverse every point on our timeline...
This is the flaw in your logic. Read up on Zeno's Paradox.
 
  • #3
Victor.Nyeste said:
Hi, I'm a new member who has just embarked on my journey into Quantum Mechanics and String Theory. I was a grade A student in contemporary high school physics, however i am aware that i have a lot to catch up on (i assure you the textbooks are on order),...

Welcome Victor, and congratulations on your success in the physics course!
Different branches of physics treat time in different ways---there is no one single consensus as to the nature of time, or what it fundamentally is.

If you have ordered textbooks, then you will soon be reading them and hopefully working the exercises and problems at the end of each chapter. It will be wise to put aside philosophical puzzles for the time being and to cooperate with the authors of the textbooks. Just see how they deal with time and go along with their notation.

Textbooks are expensive these days, and it is hard to know which ones are right for you if you have no university or college bookstore, or library, where you can browse and sample, before you buy. I hope the books you have ordered turn out to be right for you!

If you want to get a taste of all the different ways people have of thinking about time (I do not advise this but if your philosophical instinct is strong and compels you to investigate) then you might have a look at the essays submitted to the Foundational Questions Institute essay contest on "What is the nature of time?"

The institute is run by distinguished physicists (incuding a Nobel laureate on the board of advisors)
http://www.fqxi.org/who#sd
and they make it their business to deal with difficult issues like this. They assembled a panel of other distinguished physicists to judge the essays and award a half-dozen or so prizes. You can read the prizewinning essays, and the others as well if you want, on line.
There were at least fifty essays submitted, each one addressing the question "what is time?" or "what is the nature of time?" Alas :redface: we humans do not yet have a consensus about that, even within physics itself (forgetting about other branches of science.)

Here is the current FQXi contest webpage, it has a link to last year's as well:
http://www.fqxi.org/community/essay
This page lists the winners of the 2008 Time essay contest, and gives links to the text so you can read whichever ones you like:
http://www.fqxi.org/community/essay/winners/2008.1
 
Last edited:
  • #4
thanks for the links Markus, they will make a good weekend read.
 

1. What is the concept of time and how do we fit into it?

The concept of time is a fundamental aspect of our existence. It refers to the progression of events from the past, through the present, and into the future. As humans, we experience time as a linear and continuous flow, and we are constantly trying to make sense of it and our place within it.

2. How do scientists measure time?

Scientists use various methods to measure time, including the Earth's rotation on its axis (day and night), the Earth's orbit around the sun (year), and atomic clocks that measure the vibrations of atoms (nanoseconds). These measurements are then used to create standardized units of time, such as seconds, minutes, hours, and days.

3. Is time a human construct or a universal concept?

This is a highly debated question in the scientific community. Some argue that time is a human construct, as it is based on our perception and understanding of it. Others believe that time is a universal concept, inherent in the fabric of the universe and exists independently of human existence.

4. Can time be manipulated or controlled?

Currently, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that time can be manipulated or controlled. However, some theories, such as the theory of relativity, suggest that time can be affected by factors such as gravity and velocity. Scientists are still exploring the possibilities of time travel and manipulation through theoretical and experimental research.

5. How does our understanding of time impact our daily lives?

Our understanding of time plays a crucial role in how we structure our daily lives. It allows us to plan and organize our actions, and helps us keep track of events and schedules. Time also plays a significant role in our perception of aging and mortality, and how we prioritize and value our time and experiences.

Similar threads

B Balancing theories and empirical data, especially concerning string theory
    • Beyond the Standard Models
2
Replies
47
Views
4K
B Help with personal thoughts and observations in attempt to understand the fourth dimension better
    • Other Physics Topics
Replies
3
Views
677
B Need help with understanding time travel
    • Other Physics Topics
Replies
8
Views
1K
I Trying To Conceptualize Two Dimensions Of Time
    • Beyond the Standard Models
Replies
2
Views
2K
A "Monstrous Higgs and Leech Spacetime"
    • Beyond the Standard Models
Replies
0
Views
1K
I Curved spacetime bulging in time direction
    • Special and General Relativity
Replies
30
Views
651
I Integrity of matter / space and time
    • Other Physics Topics
Replies
13
Views
3K
A The double copy of (2,0) theory
    • Beyond the Standard Models
Replies
1
Views
2K
I Rovelli on Quantum Gravity
    • Beyond the Standard Models
4
Replies
105
Views
10K
I Expressing any given point on plane with one unique number
    • General Math
Replies
4
Views
616

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top