Understanding Physics: What is Time?

[revv]

Let me first say I am just learning about physics and trying to understand some things about time.

Can we say time is the "Now" or am I missing the concept of time entirely?

 

[Drakkith]

Time. That which a clock measures. The thing that keeps events from happening at the same... 'time'. The odd man out with regards to spacetime dimensions.

 

[mikeph]

Think of "time" as a continuous, ordered set of moments. "Now" is one of those moments, though which particular moment it happens to be depends on when you say the word.

Think also of "space" as an ordered set of places. "Here" is one of those places, but the exact one referred to depends on the location of the person saying the word!

 

[Joe Ciancimino]

Within the current accepted model of time, there is no such thing as "Now". There is only the past which we remember, and the future to which we do not remember. The concept of "Now" is explained as being the most recent past as the experience is simply very short term memory of an event that has already happened. There are of course other alternative theories that argue for the existence of "Now" being separate from the past and future but these are generally ignored by conventional science at this time. You might want to look into Space Time Atom Theory for more information.

Fay Dowker
http://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/f.dowker

Space Time Atoms

 

[Drakkith]

The concept of "Now" is explained as being the most recent past as the experience is simply very short term memory of an event that has already happened.

I don't think that's correct. I know of no useful definitions of time in physics which have anything to do with memory.

 

[Jose Leal]

I think we do not have a complete definition of time

 

[brainpushups]

Time. That which a clock measures.

I think that is sufficient for its usage in physics.

 

[Drakkith]

I think that is sufficient for its usage in physics.

I agree. As usual with threads asking about time, this one has already floundered into the area of philosophy and mysticism. Thread locked.