Posted on 04/16/2005 4:19:09 PM PDT by beavus
The concept of time is self-evident. An hour consists of a certain number of minutes, a day of hours and a year of days. But we rarely think about the fundamental nature of time.
Time is passing non-stop, and we follow it with clocks and calendars. Yet we cannot study it with a microscope or experiment with it. And it still keeps passing. We just cannot say what exactly happens when time passes.
Time is represented through change, such as the circular motion of the moon around the earth. The passing of time is indeed closely connected to the concept of space.
According to the general theory of relativity, space, or the universe, emerged in the Big Bang some 13.7 billion years ago. Before that, all matter was packed into an extremely tiny dot. That dot also contained the matter that later came to be the sun, the earth and the moon – the heavenly bodies that tell us about the passing of time.
Before the Big Band, there was no space or time.
“In the theory of relativity, the concept of time begins with the Big Bang the same way as parallels of latitude begin at the North Pole. You cannot go further north than the North Pole,” says Kari Enqvist, Professor of Cosmology.
One of the most peculiar qualities of time is the fact that it is measured by motion and it also becomes evident through motion.
According to the general theory of relativity, the development of space may result in the collapse of the universe. All matter would shrink into a tiny dot again, which would end the concept of time as we know it.
“Latest observations, however, do not support the idea of collapse, rather inter-galactic distances grow at a rapid pace,” Enqvist says.
If you want to know more about the topic, visit Kari Enqvist’s website at http://www.physics.helsinki.fi/~enqvist/.
Text: Simo Salmela Picture: ESO www.helsinki.fi/digitalcommunications
Translation: Valtasana Oy
"Relativity (or rather, a relative perspective) says the ball is (or can be perceived as) being motionless, and in fact the house, the planet, the universe is now spinning."
But what freqs?(what oscillates or potentially oscillates) Thanks for your thought.
Well, I can be reached at Pennsylvania 65000. Take the Chattanooga Choo-Choo and Jump over about on o'clock. If you're In the Mood to wear a String of Pearls, tommorrow won't be a Gloomy Sunday.
"...if it's December 1941 in Casablanca, what time is it in New York?"
Well, Ars Nova was before Purcell, and Ars Antigua pre-dated Ars Nova.
Mañana doesn't mean "tomorrow"; it means "not today."
Even if all matter was packed into an extremely tiny dot, the dot existed, and therefore time existed. Time and matter are connected...so it is approprite to refer to before the Big Bang (a theory which I disagree with - where did the tiny dot come from - and how does the Big Bang answer the question of the origin of information - an element contained in the DNA of every living cell.)
I'm no physicist, but could the manifestation of Time be related to cosmic inflation?
Don't worry Alan Greenspan is all over it.
"uh, my watch stopped"
If I understand them correctly, the proponents of materialist theory of the universe insist that there is no connection between the Big Band and the origin of life. And I personally don't find Big Band romantic at all; it's white noise to me.
Ok...if you are traveling at the speed of light...and you turn your headlights on...what happens?
"Time is the because with which some dolls are stuffed." - e e cummings
Ah; the "Flatulence Orthogonal Temporality Theorem!" ("FOTT")
"What is time?"
I dunno. . .but I know I never have enough of it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.