Can Understanding Spacetime Lead to Time Travel?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of spacetime and its implications for time travel. Participants explore whether understanding spacetime could enable time travel and facilitate faster travel through space, addressing both theoretical and conceptual aspects.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that spacetime is a framework that combines the three spatial dimensions with time, while others emphasize that time is typically regarded as the "4th dimension."
  • One participant claims that while we can travel through space, we are constrained to moving through time in one direction, suggesting that future understanding is unlikely to lead to time travel due to physical laws and paradoxes.
  • Another participant argues that knowledge of spacetime does not grant any special abilities, although they acknowledge that understanding it can help in covering great distances more effectively if speed increases.
  • A later reply humorously suggests that knowledge of spacetime can impress students, indicating a more lighthearted view on the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of understanding spacetime for time travel, with some asserting it is unlikely while others maintain a more optimistic perspective about its potential applications.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the feasibility of time travel and the interpretation of spacetime, as well as varying definitions of what constitutes the "4th dimension."

Dheer Parikh
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Correct me if I am wrong and pls answer to my question .The 4th dimension is also known as SPACETIME.Does it mean that if we if are able to understand it and if we apply it,we can travel space and time?If Yes then, will we be able to construct TIME MACHINE and travel through time?and also through space quick easier than that of today?
 
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Dheer Parikh said:
The 4th dimension is also known as SPACETIME.

This is incorrect. Spacetime is a framework constructed by merging all three physical dimensions and the time dimension together. The 4th dimension is time.

Read more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacetime

Dheer Parikh said:
Does it mean that if we if are able to understand it and if we apply it,we can travel space and time?If Yes then, will we be able to construct TIME MACHINE and travel through time?and also through space quick easier than that of today?

We already understand spacetime very well. Well enough to make predictions that have yet to be found inaccurate or incorrect. While we can already travel through space in any direction and speed of our choosing (within physical possibilities), we are constrained to traveling through time in a single direction. It is unlikely that future understanding will lead to time travel. Not only does it violate multiple physical laws (any one of which are extremely important and practically a requirement for all of modern physics), but the various paradoxes that crop up cast serious doubt on its possibility.
 
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Dheer Parikh said:
The 4th dimension is also known as SPACETIME.
Time is usually considered the "4th dimension". Since space and time are intertwined, all four are called spacetime.

Dheer Parikh said:
Does it mean that if we if are able to understand it and if we apply it,we can travel space and time?
We already do travel space and time. Knowledge of spacetime does not give you any special powers.

Dheer Parikh said:
If Yes then, will we be able to construct TIME MACHINE and travel through time?
No.

Dheer Parikh said:
and also through space quick easier than that of today?
In a sense, yes. We understand how great distances can be covered if only we can move fast enough.
 
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Doc Al said:
Time is usually considered the "4th dimension". Since space and time are intertwined, all four are called spacetime.We already do travel space and time. Knowledge of spacetime does not give you any special powers.No.In a sense, yes. We understand how great distances can be covered if only we can move fast enough.
I beg to differ on this one, as knowledge of spacetime can give you the special power to awe and amaze young physics students. :wink:
 
Battlemage! said:
I beg to differ on this one, as knowledge of spacetime can give you the special power to awe and amaze young physics students. :wink:
You got me there. :smile:
 

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