Can time be a function in any parameter?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of whether time can be expressed as a function of another parameter, denoted as T=f(p). Participants explore various interpretations and implications of this idea, touching on applications in physics, particularly in the context of relativity and variable relationships.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the meaning of expressing time as a function of a parameter, suggesting that while time can be related to other variables in specific applications, it may not align with the original intent of the question.
  • Another participant presents a formula from Special Relativity, indicating that time can be expressed in relation to other variables such as speed and position, but this raises questions about the nature of dependency between time and these variables.
  • A participant argues that while one can formulate relationships involving time and velocity, it does not imply that time is dependent on velocity, suggesting a need to clarify which variable is independent.
  • There is a mention of the philosophical perspective on time, referencing a paper that compares time to spatial dimensions, which may provide additional insights into the discussion.
  • A simple equation relating time to distance and velocity is presented, but its relevance to the main question remains unclear.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between time and other parameters, with no consensus reached on whether time can be definitively considered a function of another variable. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the importance of understanding the roles of dependent and independent variables in physics, which complicates the discussion of time as a function of other parameters.

ahmedhassan72
Messages
54
Reaction score
0
It is the question ,I had posted some threads but i couldn't clarify my idea but now i came with the question . Can time be T=f(p) ?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I have no idea what you mean by that. If you have some particular application in mind, yes, you could write time in terms of some parameter. You can write any variable in terms of a parameter. For example, if I am filling a square container, with sides of length 1 cm, with water coming in at, say, 2 liters per second, then the height of the water in the container is h= 2t/1000= 0.002 t. Since that is a one-to-one function of time, it is invertible: t= 500h and I can think of time as a function of the parameter h.

Surely that's not what you meant!
 
t=(t'-xv/c^2)/(1-v^2/c^2)^0.5

that is the time in one reference frame as a function of the time in the other reference frame, it's speed and position.

(check out Special Relativity)
 
what is that equation and what is t' ? and also if i say that velocity depend on time i can write an equation of time and velocity but i can't say that time depends on velocity .I meant something that time depends on.( in your example i can say that h is directly proportional to t but i can't say the opposite)
 
This is why it is physics and not mathematics. You need to know (based on the physics), which one is the dependent variable and which one is the independent variable.

Zz.
 
The equation, posted by ibc, demonstrates that time is a variable in relativity, while the velocity of light is the only constant. In that context, time can be considered as a function of c.
 
ahmedhassan72 said:
i can write an equation of time and velocity but i can't say that time depends on velocity .I meant something that time depends on.

I'd recommend searching for a philosophy paper by Richard Taylor titled Spatial and Temporal Analogies or something close. He argues that time is like space but at the very least you'll encounter a few arguments that are, in sum, ridiculous-sounding. However the point is, you find it hard talking about time in the same sense you would some spatial dimension.

Worth a gander in this direction anyway.
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Understanding how time derivative = acceleration
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
Undergrad Differentiate w/ Respect to Affine Parameter
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Graduate Using AI to evaluate white papers?
  • · Replies 42 ·
2
Replies
42
Views
3K
Graduate Array variable of envelope function (parameter representation)
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Undergrad Why are free parameters bad for a theory?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Undergrad Does amplitude require spatial or temporal parameters?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Graduate Retarded time and advanced time (and binning)
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Graduate Ideas in physics used for creating art
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Undergrad Parameters of a distribution of a physical variable
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Graduate Equations of State in Modern Classical Physics (Thorne/Blandford)
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K