Is Time Just Another Coordinate Axis That We Can Only See Moving Forward?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the concept of time as a coordinate axis, exploring whether it can be traversed both forwards and backwards. Participants assert that while time may be treated as a dimension in physics, humans can only perceive it moving forward at a constant rate. The conversation highlights the implications of principles like least action and the speed of light (c), concluding that particles cannot move backwards in time, which reinforces the notion that human perception of time is linear and unidirectional.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the concept of time as a dimension in physics
  • Familiarity with the principles of least action and least time
  • Knowledge of the speed of light (c) as a universal constant
  • Basic grasp of particle physics and their behavior in time
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  • Research the implications of time as a dimension in theoretical physics
  • Study the principles of least action and their applications in physics
  • Explore the concept of time dilation and its effects on perception
  • Investigate the relationship between particles and their movement through time
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Physicists, students of theoretical physics, and anyone interested in the philosophical implications of time and its perception in the universe.

sqljunkey
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Is it possible that time is just another coordinate axis? That it can be moved freely into backwards and forwards at any speed. And for some reason we as humans can only see it moving forward? and communicate at a definite speed in time.

Maybe everything is already calculated and solved, and we are just moving through the steps. If that is so is there anyway to find out?
 
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sqljunkey said:
Is it possible that time is just another coordinate axis?

This is how it is treated in physics...

sqljunkey said:
That it can be moved freely into backwards and forwards at any speed.

... except that you can't move backwards along it. Also note that your own 'speed' through time never ever changes. If you keep a clock with you at all times, it will always tick at 1 second per second. You will only ever observe clocks not in your frame of reference ticking at some other rate.

sqljunkey said:
And for some reason we as humans can only see it moving forward? and communicate at a definite speed in time.

If we can only observe it moving forward, that would seem to preclude us ever observing it doing anything else. :wink:
 
sqljunkey said:
Is it possible that time is just another coordinate axis?
Time IS "just another coordinate". Actually, I thing the term "dimension" is more appropriate
That it can be moved freely into backwards and forwards at any speed.
no, you can only move forward in time.
And for some reason we as humans can only see it moving forward? and communicate at a definite speed in time.
How would you test for that?EDIT: I see Drakkith beat me to it.
 
What about principles like least action and least time, where particles take non-straight paths to a point. Doesn't that imply that we can't move backwards or at higher than c in time, but particles can and do ?
 
sqljunkey said:
What about principles like least action and least time, where particles take non-straight paths to a point. Doesn't that imply that we can't move backwards or at higher than c in time, but particles can and do ?
Well, since they CAN'T and DON'T, don't you think your premise is probably wrong?
 
sqljunkey said:
What about principles like least action and least time, where particles take non-straight paths to a point. Doesn't that imply that we can't move backwards or at higher than c in time, but particles can and do ?

No. Remember that we ourselves are made out of particles and follow identical rules in the right circumstances.
 
sqljunkey said:
where particles take non-straight paths to a point.
And that's without using Sat Nav!
 

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