- #1
komodekork
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What is the resoning or the motivation for the minus sign in the space-time interval?
komodekork said:Thinking about [tex]s^{2}=t^{2}-(x^{2}+y^{2}+z^{2})[/tex]
komodekork said:Ofcourse, but that's not what I am asking about. I'm asking why treat time differently? Is there some reasoning other than "we do it because it works". In eucledian geometry one would just add everything, but in Lorentz geometry there is this minus.
The minus sign in the space-time interval equation represents the difference between the space and time components. It accounts for the fact that time and space have opposite signs in the equation, indicating that they are fundamentally different quantities.
The space-time interval equation is used in relativity because it provides a way to calculate the distance between two events in space and time. This is important in understanding the effects of gravity and the curvature of space-time.
Yes, the minus sign in the space-time interval equation changes our understanding of time by showing that it is not an absolute quantity, but rather a dimension that is intertwined with space. This is a fundamental concept in Einstein's theory of relativity.
The minus sign affects the measurement of space and time by indicating that they are not independent quantities, but rather are intertwined and dependent on each other. It also shows that the measurement of time can be affected by factors such as gravity and velocity.
No, the minus sign in the space-time interval equation cannot be replaced with a plus sign. This would change the equation and its fundamental meaning, as it would no longer accurately represent the relationship between space and time in the context of relativity.