Time as the only dimension

[jmech]

Is it possible that there is only one dimension in the universe--time? Could our perception of reality be a function of the same single piece of matter existing in different states at different points in time? I'll freely admit that this "theory" is lacking, but it has been a little mental exercise I've been playing with for years now and I figured I would share to see what kind of thoughts it provoked from others.

[macaw]

Is it possible that there is only one dimension in the universe--time? Could our perception of reality be a function of the same single piece of matter existing in different states at different points in time? I'll freely admit that this "theory" is lacking, but it has been a little mental exercise I've been playing with for years now and I figured I would share to see what kind of thoughts it provoked from others.

Stretch your arms and grab both ends of the desk in front of you simultaneosly. Is there a difference in the postion of your hands?

[DrRocket]

Stretch your arms and grab both ends of the desk in front of you simultaneosly. Is there a difference in the postion of your hands?

Do you mean to tell me that postal zip codes are not indications of time ?

[jmech]

Stretch your arms and grab both ends of the desk in front of you simultaneosly. Is there a difference in the postion of your hands?

Yes, there is certainly a difference in the position of my hands. However, time and space are linked. Given the constant motion of everything we perceive in the universe, it is possible that our limited perception of time is dealt with it by assigning everything a place in space. The space occupied by one end of the desk was once occupied by the other end of the desk and my hands that I use for touching once occupied that space as well. They are the same, they only occupy different points in time. What I am sensing is an echo that I am unable to perceive clearly. Therefore, I assign that echo with significance outside of myself.

[jmech]

Zip codes are an indication of time, but it is nearly impossible to judge how much since we don't know just how fast we are hurdling through space on a planetary + galactic + universal scale. Although, I have a strong feeling that a zip code is the space-time equivalent of the time it takes to heat a hot pocket.

[macaw]

Yes, there is certainly a difference in the position of my hands.

Yet, there is NO difference in time. THAT was the point.

[macaw]

Do you mean to tell me that postal zip codes are not indications of time ?

:-)

[slang]

Stretch your arms and grab both ends of the desk in front of you simultaneosly.

Was this a challenge, or just a description of your response, leaving out the forceful forward movement of brow until impact with desk?

[aastrotech]

Yet, there is NO difference in time. THAT was the point.

But there is a difference in spacetime.

[north]

if time has more than a mathematical dimension to it , a substance

then prove it

[DrRocket]

Zip codes are an indication of time, but it is nearly impossible to judge how much since we don't know just how fast we are hurdling through space on a planetary + galactic + universal scale. Although, I have a strong feeling that a zip code is the space-time equivalent of the time it takes to heat a hot pocket.

When you want to determine how to get to some desired destination from your home, do you consult a map or a clock ?

While it is quite true that the spacetime of general relativity results in an "intertwining" of time and space, there is also a clear distinction between timelike and spacelike displacements. There is also the very clear fact that spacetime is a 4-dimensional manifold and most certainly not a 1-manifold. The signature of the Minkowski metric is extremely important to both special and general relativity and it does not have an analog in one dimension.

[north]

then you must delve into what the essence of time is

the essence of time is movement , essentially

[korjik]

then you must delve into what the essence of time is

the essence of time is movement , essentially

No, not in the slightest. Time is independent of movement.

[korjik]

Is it possible that there is only one dimension in the universe--time? Could our perception of reality be a function of the same single piece of matter existing in different states at different points in time? I'll freely admit that this "theory" is lacking, but it has been a little mental exercise I've been playing with for years now and I figured I would share to see what kind of thoughts it provoked from others.

If you can create a situation where a displacement in space cannot be explained as a displacement in time, then displacement is independent of time.

Take this situation:
I am stationary, my hands are one meter apart.

There is no way to explain this with only time, since it is a situation that is static in time, yet there is still a displacement.

If you want to muddy the waters by putting irrelevant movements in, then I can just set the situation up in a way where the displacement can never be fully cancelled by a change in time.

Either way, showing that time is not a complete explanation is pretty simple

[north]

Originally Posted by north
then you must delve into what the essence of time is

the essence of time is movement , essentially

No, not in the slightest. Time is independent of movement. korjik

how is time independent of movement ?

[Tobin Dax]

how is time independent of movement ?

Time flows whether or not an object moves. Motion is not required for time to progress.

[north]

Time flows whether or not an object moves.

how does time do this ?

Motion is not required for time to progress.

then what is time based on ?

[captain swoop]

NorthOK if you want to ask questions about the nature of time then you need to do it in the Q&A Forum.
Tobin Dax Please do not answer questions like this. It distracts from the OP of the thread.
You are both hijacking the thread.

[north]

NorthOK if you want to ask questions about the nature of time then you need to do it in the Q&A Forum.
Tobin Dax Please do not answer questions like this. It distracts from the OP of the thread.
You are both hijacking the thread.

Done

[Andrew D]

Zip codes are an indication of time, but it is nearly impossible to judge how much since we don't know just how fast we are hurdling through space on a planetary + galactic + universal scale. Although, I have a strong feeling that a zip code is the space-time equivalent of the time it takes to heat a hot pocket.

Actually, we know our velocity relative to the galaxy, and the velocity of our local group relative to the Hubble flow thanks to accurate cmb data. The data has to be modified to remove the dipole effect caused by our movement!