Time: A Scientific Exploration

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of time, exploring its definition, nature, and implications in physics. Participants engage with various theories and perspectives, touching on its relationship with space, change, and the universe's structure.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that time is an evolution parameter or a value used to chronicle changes in matter.
  • Others propose that time is fundamentally linked to space, describing it as a dimension in which particles move in one direction.
  • There are claims that time is perceived differently by observers, with discussions about how traveling at the speed of light could affect the perception of time.
  • One participant raises the question of what existed before time, suggesting that if time defines before and after, the question may be nonsensical.
  • Another viewpoint posits that before the Big Bang, time did not pass as there was no separation in space-like points.
  • Some participants argue that the question of what is before time is akin to asking what is north of the North Pole, implying it lacks meaning within our current understanding of time.
  • There is a discussion about the relativity of time, with references to gravitational effects on time as seen in GPS technology.
  • One participant challenges the notion of "biological time" and its implications for measuring elapsed time.
  • Several participants engage in a debate about cardinal directions and their relation to perspective, drawing analogies to the concept of time.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the nature of time, with no consensus reached on its definition or implications. Disagreements arise particularly around the question of what precedes time and the interpretation of time as a dimension.

Contextual Notes

Some claims rely on specific definitions of time and space, and the discussion includes unresolved questions about the nature of time and its relationship to events before the Big Bang.

  • #91
elosin said:
Whao, all of this are new information. thanks they help a lot=D
But one more question, if time is (space ,other dimensions that things travel to one direction.), What is before time? If time is what is mention, anything that happen before that should not even happen. Hence if that did not happen how does time even start?

Since time is an evolution parameter, as said above. Asking «what is before y?» is like asking for some x(t) given y(t') where t<t'. Your question «What is before time?» is like asking for some x(t) given t where t<t, which makes no sense.
 
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  • #92
Hello all,

I would agree that dx/dy does not require time since the infinite number of possible ratios are all contained at ounce in this simple equation.

For me, Time is very real and is defined as the infinite realm in which space exists... it is the space of space and their common existence is spacetime.

In spacetime, Time enables fundamental energetic processes to evolve in space, interacting and becoming each and every structures we have so far named and included in the comprehension we developped of our magnificent Universe.

Our best (and current) comprehension culminates in Science and, since the beginning of its endeavour, Science uses Time in a quantitative manner providing a measure of duration that is usable in itself or in a relative way.

The actual quantization of Time is a product of basic arithmetics; 1 + 1 + 1... the accuracy to which it is measured depends on our current mastery of how fast we can resolve this basic repetitive addition.

For the human mind, Time remains a representation of duration, perceived in a mental creation stemming from both our environment, which itself is in a vast array of relative motion, and our knowledge of that basic arithmetic operation.


regards,

VE
 
  • #93
It's the thing that keeps everything from happening all at once.
 
  • #94
It's not a dimension per say. It's an unconstant constant constant.
 
  • #95
The OP's second post had an interesting question. When the universe was the size of a pin-head (or smaller), before expansion, shouldn't 'time' be frozen due to gravitational time dilation?
 
  • #96
Previous thread on this very issue has either been deleted or locked, due to several violations of the PF Rules, especially on speculative posts.

It looks like this thread will suffer the SAME fate. We have given it ample opportunity for people to discuss this on the basis of valid physics. However, it has now meander into personal opinions, speculation, and philosophy. That signifies the end of this thread.

Zz.
 

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