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| 05 Jun 2014 06:02 PM |
It is commonly said that "time isn't the 4th dimension" or that "the 4th dimension is a spatial dimension, and time is not". But this isn't an argument against time being the 4th dimension.
Time is the 4th dimension because time IS a spacial dimension. That's what "spacetime" is. Space and time are not two, but one. So the word "spacetime" was invented to more accurately describe the universe. Space and time are not two separate dimensions or things. They are both one thing.
Both space and time are curved by gravity. Near a massive body, spacetime is curved, and you can see the affects. With space, it's rather obvious, things move towards the massive body. With time, time itself slows down. The more massive the body, the slower time is. This is known as gravitational time dilation.
So if space and time are the same thing, then why can't it be true that time is simply a spacial dimension?
Imagine if you were a 2D creature and you lived on a piece of paper that stretched indefinitely. It would feel like it's just 2 dimensions and that's all their is. But imagine if the piece of paper was floating around, and every once in awhile hit something and curved.
Sure, it would feel like these are just random phenomena happening that can't be explained. But these are simply affects of the third dimension onto the second.
What if time is just the 4th dimension affecting the 3rd? We are only in the 3rd dimension, but the 4th dimension still affects us, and that's what time is.
When you need to meet someone, you can't just write where to meet. You have to write when and where. Both of these are required to establish position. You need both space and time. You need spacetime. |
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Allesias
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| Joined: 10 Feb 2012 |
| Total Posts: 329 |
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| 05 Jun 2014 06:03 PM |
^ true that
put some salt on it |
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