What is Timelike? Detailed Explanation

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter physlover1
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on the concept of "timelike" in the context of physics, specifically relating to the separation of events in spacetime. Participants seek a detailed explanation of what it means for events to be timelike separated, including comparisons to spacelike separation.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant explains that two events A and B are "timelike separated" if they are connected by a worldline with an instantaneous velocity less than the speed of light (c), indicating that such events can be experienced by observers moving at subluminal speeds.
  • The same participant contrasts timelike separation with spacelike separation, stating that spacelike separated events are connected by a worldline where the velocity exceeds c, and provides an example of simultaneous events in a given frame of reference as spacelike separated.
  • Another participant shares a link to formal definitions related to causal structure, suggesting that further reading may clarify the concept.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There appears to be a general understanding of the definitions of timelike and spacelike separation among participants, but no consensus on deeper implications or interpretations is reached.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not address potential limitations or assumptions underlying the definitions provided, nor does it explore the implications of these concepts in different contexts.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in the foundations of spacetime, causal structure, or those seeking clarification on the concepts of timelike and spacelike separations in physics may find this discussion useful.

physlover1
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
hey guys how are you?
please i want someone to explain to me
what is timelike mean with explanation detailed
thanks''
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Two events A and B are said to be "timelike separated" if they are connected by a worldline with an instantaneous velocity that is everywhere less than c. In other words, timelike worldlines connect all events experienced by observers moving subluminally. Conversely, spacelike separated events are those connected by a worldline for which v > c everywhere. Two events occurring simultaneously in your frame of reference are examples of spacelike separated events.
 
thanks my friends
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Definition of tangent vector to a timelike geodesic
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Graduate Does the EP imply that a free-falling observer follows a geodesic?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Undergrad Understanding Admit & Adapt: Timelike Killing Vector Field
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Graduate About the definition of Born rigidity
  • · Replies 38 ·
2
Replies
38
Views
3K
Graduate Timelike curves on event horizon
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Undergrad Okay, what exactly makes a timelike curve closed?
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
4K
Undergrad A question about static spacetime in GR
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Undergrad Theory Without Spacelike Separations: Can It Exist?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Undergrad Kerr Metric Bibliography: Resources for Timelike Geodesics
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Undergrad Definition of time-independent scalar field in GR
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K