| What Is Time? |
I will first present the commonly discussed concepts of time including past
present and future. At the end of this page I will start laying out my own ideas of
what time really is.
Time is a metaphor used to express the non-spatial distance between events.
Time is associated with change and motion. Time is the perception of the
present, the memory of the past and an anticipation of the future. Past is not
accessible except as a memory, past events and actions however are real enough
to be admissible in the court of law.
present and future. At the end of this page I will start laying out my own ideas of
what time really is.
Time is a metaphor used to express the non-spatial distance between events.
Time is associated with change and motion. Time is the perception of the
present, the memory of the past and an anticipation of the future. Past is not
accessible except as a memory, past events and actions however are real enough
to be admissible in the court of law.
A THOUGHT EXPERIMENT
Imagine two objects one moving in orbit around the other in space. Now suppose
from our distant observation point of a fixed time we observe time to get slower in
the area where these two objects are moving. We expect to see slower motion? We
also should observe proportionally weaker gravitational force; otherwise the objects
will get pulled together. If we observed faster time, we expect to see faster motion
and stronger gravity to keep the objects from flying apart. While with zero time
motion will freeze and gravity will become zero.
The increase or decrease in strength of gravity is only in relation to our fixed time
from where we are making the observation. From the point of view (time) of the
orbiting objects neither motion nor gravity has changed. As this thought experiment
also can be extended to particles held together by electromagnetic forces we can say
that time involves both motion and forces.
Imagine two objects one moving in orbit around the other in space. Now suppose
from our distant observation point of a fixed time we observe time to get slower in
the area where these two objects are moving. We expect to see slower motion? We
also should observe proportionally weaker gravitational force; otherwise the objects
will get pulled together. If we observed faster time, we expect to see faster motion
and stronger gravity to keep the objects from flying apart. While with zero time
motion will freeze and gravity will become zero.
The increase or decrease in strength of gravity is only in relation to our fixed time
from where we are making the observation. From the point of view (time) of the
orbiting objects neither motion nor gravity has changed. As this thought experiment
also can be extended to particles held together by electromagnetic forces we can say
that time involves both motion and forces.
Then What Really is Time?
Despite our preoccupation with perception of time most philosophers agree that time does exist but they just
cannot agree what it is. Aristotle felt that time is a measure of motion. He said: “Time is not motion itself as
motion can be faster or slower, but not time.” Aristotle did not have the privilege of knowing about Einstein’s
Relativity in which time also becomes amenable to change. Plato and many other Greek and Roman
philosophers believed time to be motion.
Time becomes evident through motion and is measured by comparison with other motions. Sunrise sunsets,
night and day, the changing seasons, the movement of the celestial bodies are all indicative of continuous
change. The aging process is a reminder that molecular motion and interactions are also at work and are a part
of time. Other very important aspect of time is presence of motion of particles like photon and motion at atomic
level.
We measure time by comparing the motion of mechanical or electronic clocks with the motion of celestial
bodies. Motion however is just one feature of time. There are other more subtle aspects which are normally
overlooked, for instance forces also operate in time. Let us perform a thought experiment to understand the
phenomenon of time.
Despite our preoccupation with perception of time most philosophers agree that time does exist but they just
cannot agree what it is. Aristotle felt that time is a measure of motion. He said: “Time is not motion itself as
motion can be faster or slower, but not time.” Aristotle did not have the privilege of knowing about Einstein’s
Relativity in which time also becomes amenable to change. Plato and many other Greek and Roman
philosophers believed time to be motion.
Time becomes evident through motion and is measured by comparison with other motions. Sunrise sunsets,
night and day, the changing seasons, the movement of the celestial bodies are all indicative of continuous
change. The aging process is a reminder that molecular motion and interactions are also at work and are a part
of time. Other very important aspect of time is presence of motion of particles like photon and motion at atomic
level.
We measure time by comparing the motion of mechanical or electronic clocks with the motion of celestial
bodies. Motion however is just one feature of time. There are other more subtle aspects which are normally
overlooked, for instance forces also operate in time. Let us perform a thought experiment to understand the
phenomenon of time.
A Partial Definition of Time is : Time is The Presence of Motion and Forces.
Time involves all kinds of motion. The spin of particles and the motion of photons are time dependent. Gravitational force and electromagnetic forces are all
part of time. As is the motion of celestial bodies the atoms and all other motion. We have partially understood the phenomenon of time. The next step is to
find out what is the source of this motion and forces.
Time involves all kinds of motion. The spin of particles and the motion of photons are time dependent. Gravitational force and electromagnetic forces are all
part of time. As is the motion of celestial bodies the atoms and all other motion. We have partially understood the phenomenon of time. The next step is to
find out what is the source of this motion and forces.
Future is unknown, however near future can be accurately predicted, for
example before we say a word in a conservation we know what we are
going to say just as I also know where my next step or gaze of my eye
will take me.
example before we say a word in a conservation we know what we are
going to say just as I also know where my next step or gaze of my eye
will take me.
PRESENT AN INFINITESIMAL?
Present is the most real perception of time however almost all of what we
perceive as present is already past. The present is a fleeting moment. We
seem to amalgamate memory of the immediate past and the anticipated
future into the present to create the solid picture of the present. However
whatever is happening now (present) is confined to an infinitesimally
narrow band on the time line which is being encroached upon by what we
think of as past and the future.
Present is the most real perception of time however almost all of what we
perceive as present is already past. The present is a fleeting moment. We
seem to amalgamate memory of the immediate past and the anticipated
future into the present to create the solid picture of the present. However
whatever is happening now (present) is confined to an infinitesimally
narrow band on the time line which is being encroached upon by what we
think of as past and the future.
PERCEPTION OF TIME
THE BUG ON THE WINDSHIELD EFFECT
The perception of time generally overwhelms our senses. Review of literature on time shows that physicists and
philosophers have understandably focused mostly on the perception of passage of time. We are like an insect sitting on
the windshield of a moving vehicle, overwhelmed by the changing scenery and unable to perceive the greater picture
that the cause of change is the power of the engine moving the vehicle. Similarly the feeling of the flow of time and the
arrow of time is an illusion.
This bug on a windshield effect has led to endless discussions over the past present and the future without solving the
problem of time. We need to go beyond the illusion of passage of time. We need to define time and look for the driving
force behind this phenomenon.
The perception of time is a succession events from which our mind creates the illusion of passage of time from past
present to future. It will become heuristically apparent that there is no past and future, only a succession of events. We
also will discuss that time is associated with an extra curvature in space in a higher dimension however that does not
make this space curvature a time dimension in which we can travel.
Looking closely at the duration of present gives us some insight into the illusion of the passage of time.
THE BUG ON THE WINDSHIELD EFFECT
The perception of time generally overwhelms our senses. Review of literature on time shows that physicists and
philosophers have understandably focused mostly on the perception of passage of time. We are like an insect sitting on
the windshield of a moving vehicle, overwhelmed by the changing scenery and unable to perceive the greater picture
that the cause of change is the power of the engine moving the vehicle. Similarly the feeling of the flow of time and the
arrow of time is an illusion.
This bug on a windshield effect has led to endless discussions over the past present and the future without solving the
problem of time. We need to go beyond the illusion of passage of time. We need to define time and look for the driving
force behind this phenomenon.
The perception of time is a succession events from which our mind creates the illusion of passage of time from past
present to future. It will become heuristically apparent that there is no past and future, only a succession of events. We
also will discuss that time is associated with an extra curvature in space in a higher dimension however that does not
make this space curvature a time dimension in which we can travel.
Looking closely at the duration of present gives us some insight into the illusion of the passage of time.
