Can Time Be a Dimension If It's Just a Human Construct?

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Time can be considered a dimension despite being a human construct used to measure change. The concept of a dimension refers to measurable properties of objects, and time, like length, can be quantified. While time depends on change, it is distinct from spatial dimensions, which are independent of each other. The term "dimension" in physics often relates to the units used to describe various phenomena. Ultimately, while the terminology may be human-made, the underlying concept of time as a dimension exists independently of our definitions.
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How can time be a dimension, if it is a human construct, to measure the rate of change?

I'm only in high school, sorry if this is a silly question
 
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Hi MichaelH, welcome to PF!

Why won't you tell us what is your understanding of a dimension first? Before you formulate your answer, consider that one could ask a similar question to yours: "How can length be a dimension, if it is a human construct, to measure the distance?"
 
My understanding of a dimension is a property of an object that is measurable in units.

However doesn't time depend on things changing, because in theory if everything stopped moving/changing time would be still. However the dimensions of length, breadth and hight are independent of each other.

I'm just trying understand.
 
MichaelH said:
My understanding of a dimension is a property of an object that is measurable in units.
The mathematical definitions (there are several of them) are more like "the number of numbers required to identify a point". A point in space (a location) is identified by three numbers. A point in spacetime (an event) is identified by four. That's really all there is to it.

Physicists also use the word "dimension" for something that does have something to do with units. They say things like "v has dimensions of length divided by time" to indicate what sort of units they intend to use.

The word also means something in plain English, something that doesn't have a lot to do with mathematics or physics. For example "the dimensions of this box is 30 cm × 50 cm × 15 cm".
 
MichaelH said:
How can time be a dimension, if it is a human construct,
It is not a human construct. Using the word "time" to refer to it is a human construct, but the thing that the word refers to is not. Same with "dimension".
 
Perimeter Institute cosmologist Lee Smolin asks the same question. You will be able to understand his popular books on the subject.
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