Is Time a Constant Journey or a Fixed Point in Space?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the nature of time as a dimension, its relationship with space, and the possibility of moving through time. Participants consider various models of dimensions, including the categorization of space and time, and the implications of these ideas on concepts like energy and speed.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes viewing time as a dimension where movement occurs at a constant speed, similar to spatial dimensions, but with the caveat that moving back in time may require extensive calculations to ensure future consistency.
  • Another participant notes that while movement in space is free, the concept of spacetime implies that the same spatial coordinate cannot be occupied without considering the time dimension.
  • There is a suggestion that dimensions may be categorized differently, with space as three dimensions and time as one, though the idea of additional dimensions, such as "truth," is introduced humorously.
  • A participant mentions that physicists differentiate between spatial and temporal dimensions, indicating that their mathematical treatments are distinct.
  • Discussion includes a reference to phase space, suggesting that a particle's phase space in three dimensions is a six-dimensional space.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the concept of "six dimensions," with one participant admitting to not knowing much about it.
  • A later reply critiques the depth of the discussion, suggesting that the topic may require advanced knowledge and recommending a focus on more fundamental issues.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the nature of time and dimensions, with no consensus reached on the categorization of dimensions or the implications of these ideas. The discussion remains unresolved, with differing levels of understanding and expertise among participants.

Contextual Notes

Some participants acknowledge the complexity of the topic and the need for advanced mathematical understanding, indicating that the discussion may not be easily accessible to all. There are also references to humor and uncertainty regarding the dimensions of "truth."

JPC
Messages
204
Reaction score
1
Hey

can we see time as a dimension where we are constantly moving about at the same speed (in our environment) ?

like Earth which is in movement in the 3 space dimentions (or maybe two , depends on the axis ?)

and that in some areas we move in time at a different rate (but very very very small difference)

But one of the problems i have found in this idea is that , from what i think u cannot go back in time unless if you have done an infinity of calculations (to make sure that with the change you are going to do in the past, the future will be exactly the same in every detail possible)

because you can generally move easily in the space dimentions (except if a big object is already at the desired location)
but not in time dimension

tell me what you think about this , and if i made a mistake tell me please
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You can move in the space dimesion freely . But remember space time are interlinked so the position u occupied earlier had a time dimesion too. So the same space coordinate can be occupied but Not the SPACETIME coordinate
 
JPC said:
But one of the problems i have found in this idea is that , from what i think u cannot go back in time unless if you have done an infinity of calculations (to make sure that with the change you are going to do in the past, the future will be exactly the same in every detail possible)

So your "problem" is that time and space are different from one another? Why is this a problem? No one ever claimed that the 4 dimensions are identical in every way...
 
hum so this would mean there are some cathegories of dimentions ?

if i am right :
- space (3 dimentions)
- time (1 dimension , or are there more ?)
- truth (6 dimentions ?)
 
JPC said:
hum so this would mean there are some cathegories of dimentions ?

if i am right :
- space (3 dimentions)
- time (1 dimension , or are there more ?)

Last I heard, that's right. I'm not really that much of an expert, and I was hoping someone else would post. But I know physicists talk about "spatial dimensions" as a separate thing from time, and I know the formulas are different for some things in time and in space. So I think that's right.

- truth (6 dimentions ?)

No, there are 349 dimensions of truth.

Wait, I guess I shouldn't assume that you're joking. I hope so though :wink:
 
Maybe JPC meant six dementias. :wink:
 
yeah sorry, made a mistake

but hey out of the 349,
how many concern energy ?
how many concern speed ?
well energy and speed can be linked (cinetic energy) ? right ? , but since i don't know very much about truth dimentions
 
Last edited:
Maybe he meant phase space?

The phase space for a particle in 3 dimensions is a six-dimensional space.
 
well i don't really know
i just heard 6 'something' dimentions some time ago
 
  • #10
JPC said:
well i don't really know
i just heard 6 'something' dimentions some time ago

Oh. I thought it was a joke.
 
  • #11
I am going to make a guess that this thread is really going nowhere, and fast.

JPC: what you're asking requires an extremely advanced knowledge to comprehend. Many of these descriptions are highly mathematical in nature and are not easily visualized, certainly not in the naive picture. Unless you have a specific need to know such a thing, I would suggest you postpone it and try to shore up a bit on other basic, fundamental issues that are more easily within your grasp.

If someone thinks they have a substantiative post to offer that can be useful to the OP, please PM me. If not, this thread is done.

Zz.
 

Similar threads

Undergrad "Exploring Time Perception Across Different Regions of Space"
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
2K
Undergrad Do Physicists Literally Believe We Move Through Time?
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
3K
High School How Do Points M and O' Move Relative to Point O in Space and Time?
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
2K
High School Relativistic simultaneity and effects on time
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
1K
High School Can We Use Space/Time Fabric to See the Past?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Undergrad Teaching Minkowski diagrams effectively
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
High School Question about "odometer" analogy and time dilation
  • · Replies 34 ·
2
Replies
34
Views
2K
High School New Paradox Discovered, I Think
  • · Replies 98 ·
4
Replies
98
Views
9K
Undergrad How to Measure Speed of Light & Is It Constant?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
Undergrad Understanding Relativity of Simultaneity in Resnick, Part I
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K