Disscusion on the theory of time and space

Question

Does anyone have any good points to say on time .Do you think it has an end or a beginning. do u think the universe has an end or beggining

Answer 1

The current theory is that our universe, and thus time, had a beginning and that eventually the universe and time, which is tied to space, will end. I'm not sure if that's true though. After all another current theory says that there are many other universes and dimensions which should have some sort of time, so really time wouldn't have a beginning or an end, would it? Another thing that adds to the confusion is that there are no laws that say time has to move forwards. So what if it moves back and forth, or in a cyclical pattern without our knowing it? Again time wouldn't have a beginning or an end. It's a very complex and interesting mystery that I don't think will ever be truly solved.

Answer 2

Shane -

Time and space are inseparably connected. When you look out in space, you look back in time. If space had a beginning (a.k.a. the Big Bang - as supported by current observations), then time also had a beginning. It is not reasonable to talk about time before the Big Bang, because it did not exist as we know it today.

Time is not constant, although we as humans perceive it to be. The measurement of time depends on relative velocity, therefore the measurement of time is also relative. Objects that are moving near the speed of light (say, in a spacecraft) relative to objects in an assumed static frame (for example, on the Earth) will experience time more slowly than those in the fixed frame. If you attach the fixed frame to the spacecraft and assume that the Earth is moving, then the reverse will be true - i.e. time will be seen to move slower on the Earth relative to the that on the spacecraft. The two differing measurements of time can only be reconciled through the equations of the Lorentz Transform, or by the acceleration of one of the two frames. It is this acceleration that results in the well-known Twin Paradox, where a space traveler ages during his journey relative to those that are left behind. .

Answer 3

Time is an arbitrary measure of distance.

Answer 4

When trying to solve Einstein's equation describing the universe (as a mathematical model, for gravity), mathematicians found that in a totally empty universe, time did not exist (or did not flow, which -- we think -- means the same thing).

As soon as the universe contains matter, there exists an ever changing "thing" that we call time, which separates events in a non-spatial way.

Objects can be separated by distance (you and I are not in the same room).  Objects can be separated by time (I could be in the same room as you, but not on the same day).

Most of the time, objects are separated by both.

In space-time, the definition of "distance" includes the time separation.

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If the universe had a beginning, then time has a beginning.  Before the beginning, there was nothing, therefore no matter, therefore no time.

For example, when working with the Big Bang theory, we find that in our frame of reference, there is no "before" before the Big Bang.  However, if you extend backwards with some other hypothesis (for example, the multi-verse and its colliding 'branes), then we find that there could be many ways that time could flow (which could mean, more than one "time" dimension).

Headache time.

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If the universe has no end (as is now thought), then time has no end, as long as there is matter in the universe.

If the universe has an end (e.g., a Big Crunch), then the present flow of time will have an end at that point.

Answer 5

Its incomprehensible for humans to grasp the concept of time or space with respect to its beginning and its end, if some advanced civilization could understand it they could not put it into mere words to let us understand.What happened the day before the Big Bang?

Answer 6

As my old gran used to say,if it has a beginning it must have an end.How long is a piece of string     theory?

Answer 7

Well to give my opinion, I think it has neither, it keeps going on forever, its really amazing if you really think about it. I hope their are other planets with our kind on there.