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- Title
A logical examination of the nature of time.
- Authors
Self, Sydney B.
- Abstract
This article uses logic as its basis. It examines the nature of time from two perspectives: Time as it is perceived and time as it exists when it is not (or cannot be) perceived. Einstein's first postulate does not address time that is not perceived. Einstein's second postulate defines the speed of light to be a constant which is the same for all observers; thus the speed of light does not depend on the frame of reference from which it is perceived. The implication of this difference is that, according to special relativity, the nature of perceived time is not the same as the nature of time that is not perceived. This article assumes that, just as matter can be subdivided into perceived reality and physical reality, time can also be subdivided into the time we perceive (perceived time) and the time we cannot perceive (physical time). Physical time must have characteristics that do not depend on perception. In physical time, all events occur during "Now." Now occurs simultaneously throughout the universe. It is synchronized, and is a constant whose duration is a Planck time, which in this article is termed a "tick." Absolute time exists and consists of a continuous, never ending sequence of ticks. Time dilation is also an aspect of physical time. The faster an object travels through space, the less it ages. Since time dilation is caused by the speed a particle moves through space, this article proposes that time dilation results from whether, during now, a particle moves through space or moves through time. The "decision" as to which choice is selected is based on probability, namely, the speed of the particle divided by the speed of light. This implies that the speed of an object through space should be thought of as a probability.
- Subjects
FRAMES of reference (Relativity); SPEED of light; SPECIAL relativity (Physics); PLANCK'S postulate; TIME dilation; TWIN paradox (Relativity)
- Publication
Physics Essays, 2016, Vol 29, Issue 2, p261
- ISSN
0836-1398
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.4006/0836-1398-29.2.261