My head spins when I think about time

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    Movement Spinning Time
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of time, exploring whether it is a creation of movement or exists independently of motion. Participants delve into different concepts of time, including proper time and coordinate time, and raise philosophical questions regarding the existence of time in the absence of movement.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that time may be the creation of movement.
  • Another participant cites Einstein's definition of time as "what a clock measures," drawing an analogy to distance.
  • A different perspective introduces the distinction between proper time (physical) and coordinate time (mathematical).
  • One participant posits that the Earth's rotation is what threads time together.
  • Some participants argue that time can be measured by processes that are not motion-based, indicating that time is not necessarily tied to movement.
  • A philosophical question is raised about whether time would still exist if all motion ceased, prompting further debate on the nature of time.
  • Another participant suggests that the philosophical implications of time's existence without motion might be better suited for a different forum.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the nature of time, with no consensus reached on whether time is dependent on movement or exists independently.

Contextual Notes

Some claims rely on specific definitions of time, and there are unresolved philosophical implications regarding the existence of time in a motionless universe.

mixfijoe
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TL;DR
Time,
Hi I’m new to this site as well as physics. But it fascinates me.
Is time the creation of movement?
 
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The best way of keeping your head from spinning is to go with Einstein's definition: "Time is what a clock measures".

There is an analogy with something that Einstein didn't say because it was so obvious: "Distance is what a ruler measures".
 
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mixfijoe said:
TL;DR Summary: Time,

Hi I’m new to this site as well as physics. But it fascinates me.
Is time the creation of movement?
In modern science there are two concepts of time. Proper time is what a clock measured. Coordinate time is a coordinate in some coordinate charts (with some specific properties).

Proper time is the physical one, coordinate time is mathematical.
 
For me, it is the Earth that spins the non-renewable thread of time.
 
Just to nip a common follow-up in the bud; there are processes that aren't motion-based that take time and some can even be used to tell time/as clocks. So we know for sure it isn't required to be tied to motion.
 
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russ_watters said:
Just to nip a common follow-up in the bud; there are processes that aren't motion-based that take time and some can even be used to tell time/as clocks. So we know for sure it isn't required to be tied to motion.
Great answer. But what if everything stop moveing, from the smallest atom to the biggest galaxies. Would time still exist? Or would it stop?
 
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mixfijoe said:
Great answer. But what if everything stop moveing, from the smallest atom to the biggest galaxies. Would time still exist? Or would it stop?
Just Think Timex...

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https://therightreflection.com/change/takes-a-licking-and-keeps-on-ticking/
 
mixfijoe said:
But what if everything stop moveing, from the smallest atom to the biggest galaxies. Would time still exist? Or would it stop?
I think that belongs in Philosophy Forums, next to "If a tree falls in a forest and there's no one to hear it is there a sound?"
 
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Welcome to PF.

mixfijoe said:
Hi I’m new to this site as well as physics. But it fascinates me.
Is time the creation of movement?
mixfijoe said:
Great answer. But what if everything stop moveing, from the smallest atom to the biggest galaxies. Would time still exist? Or would it stop?

You've received good and patient answers to your question, so I'll close this thread for now.

As a tip -- PF works best if you can post links to your reading that you've been doing trying to answer your question. That helps us to address any confusions you may have, and answer your question at your current level of learning. Please keep that in mind for your future questions here. Thanks! :smile:
 
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