Is time really a constant?

Question

because if its not, that could throw some of our biggest philosophical theories out the window. for instance, what if space was constant but time wasn't? wouldn't that mean you could travel thru time? i think time may not be constant since most people can recall when time sped up or slowed down, what do you think?

Answer 1

Over the past few decades, there have been extensive searches for evidence of variation of fundamental "constants." Among the methods used have been astrophysical observations of the spectra of distant stars, searches for variations of planetary radii and moments of inertia, investigations of orbital evolution, searches for anomalous luminosities of faint stars, studies of abundance ratios of radioactive nuclides, and (for current variations) direct laboratory measurements.

One powerful approach has been to study the "Oklo Phenomenon," a uranium deposit in Gabon that became a natural nuclear reactor about 1.8 billion years ago; the isotopic composition of fission products has permitted a detailed investigation of possible changes in nuclear interactions. Another has been to examine ratios of spectral lines of distant quasars coming from different types of atomic transitions (resonant, fine structure, and hyperfine). The resulting frequencies have different dependences on the electron charge and mass, the speed of light, and Planck's constant, and can be used to compare these parameters to their present values on Earth. Solar eclipses provide another sensitive test of variations of the gravitational constant. If G had varied, the eclipse track would have been different from the one we calculate today, so the mere fact that a total eclipse occurred at a particular location provides a powerful constraint, even if the date is poorly known.

So far, these investigations have found no evidence of variation of fundamental "constants." The current observational limits for most constants are on the order of one part in 1010 to one part in 1011 per year. So to the best of our current ability to observe, the fundamental constants really are constant

Answer 2

Time speeding up and slowing down (like when youre waiting for the tea to boil) are SUBJECTIVE observations. Clock on the wall doesnt slow down simply bcause you put water in a kettle and set it on the burner.

Time and space are believed linked. The faster you travel in space, (i.e., the closer you get to the Speed of Light) the slower time is believed to go. If you left Earth in 2000, went out into space at the speed of light for 25 years (according to YOUR calendar) then returned, physics assumes you would return at almost the same time you left. Your time would have sped up to the point of stopping for everyone else. Although 25 years would pass for you, virtually no time at all would pass for anyone not in your spaceship. This is about the only kind of "time travel" possible.

Answer 3

Time is the fourth coordinate in the space-time continuum, so it could not be constant. Also Einstein's Theory of Relativity addressed this and I believe, it has actually been shown that speed approaching the speed of light changes the flow of time. If this is a serious question, you might read, A Short History of Time, by Stephen Hawkings.

Answer 4

if time sped up or slowed down u would definatly knowbecause if if it slowed down or sped up to everyone in the world u would know because u coudl sence it too. it is are own midns perception that give u the feeling of how much time has passed. ur mind makes time seem how fast it goes and it can change depending on the current circumstances. if u keep busy u dont notice time therefore it seems to go by fast. if ur ored and have nothign to do u refflect over it every second and it seems longer

Answer 5

Time is derived from man thinking...now in scientific evolution, time is factored in elements gathered and the created of it that has transformed into sight that creates the time factor.
In otherwords until the sun was created we could not tell time for day or night ...it's the 3rd creation that developed time and that becomes constant until further notice and at one billion years only man can destroy that beauty..

Answer 6

Albert Einstein said that time is not a constant or an, x time it's just an idea and he prooved it with his relativity theory along with some other things

Answer 7

Time is a constant illusion for most people. It really gets in the way of living in the moment...

Answer 8

Time moves at a constant speed constantly and it never stops. Time is a constant.

Answer 9

We feel like it speeds up or slows down sometimes. To me its a constant.

Answer 10

light doesn't have a constant speed and time is measured by light .so no, time is not constant Albert Einstein found that time was relative as well