travel through time. I wondered about that, then realized it might be impossible. How and why? The answer will surprise you!
The answer occurred to me from watching the "Back to the Future" trilogy. I already gave too big (of) a hint...
2006-10-13 11:13:35 · 11 answers · asked by comedycatalyst 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
To the first answerer-I can have both "for the sake of argument" and the other phrase, too---bec. I said "might". You missed that. The logic doesn't founder here. Your turn!
2006-10-13 11:48:12 · update #1
I'm going to put the answer on my Yahoo 360 blog after Fri., Oct. 20. Prepare for some major forehead-slapping! (I told you
that the answer REALLY isn't that hard).
2006-10-17 13:01:51 · update #2
It's completely possible to travel through time, in both directions. There are no physical laws which would make this impossible.
Essentially, if you were able to travel backwards through time you'd end up at a point in your history, just fine. When you start to travel foward in time, you'd of course be in an alternate universe. Every moment after your arrival would be a modification of your history.
You'd be trapped in this new alternative universe, unable to return to your own time.
There's nothing at all wrong with it. It works out just fine.
2006-10-13 11:26:03 · answer #1 · answered by Todd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whatever, if is one big word for two letters only. If we could do either, the most sensible one is going forward as this is essentially what we are doing anyway. Just at a slower pace than what is depicted in the movie.Going back is another issue....We all know that it's impossible or I believe we all would be doing it over and over again. No one wants to grow older and that being the main factor would cause anyone reason to want to go back.Basically I'd be so grateful to just go forward a little bit faster, if I knew it would be worth the time travel getting closer to death. Like being with the love of one's life for the rest of your life..............
2006-10-13 18:33:11 · answer #2 · answered by silhouette 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Common sense:
In order to travel into the future, the future must first exist. If it does exist, there would invariably be visitors from the future in our mist - and there isn't.
The only way to get to the future is to allow the time to slowly prod its way into it.
And, from the same logic just used, travel to the past can't be possible for the same reason - nobody from the future is here - and, in the far future, the technology would be available if it existed.
2006-10-13 20:25:08 · answer #3 · answered by LeAnne 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
But you see....it is possible to travel through time....I am doing it right now at a rate of 1 second per second in my own reference frame (as is most of the rest of the world).
Traveling forwards through time is no problem...it is the paradoxes which arise from traveling back in time which are cause concern.
There is no absolute sense of time, it is relative to the observer.
2006-10-13 18:20:38 · answer #4 · answered by mrjeffy321 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For what it is worth, here is my "theory":
The only way of travelling through your own time frame is exactly as you are, a second at a time.
If you travelled through it any other way, your experience of your heart rate, metabolism etc would change, and effectively your body would not work any more.
On the other hand, you may be able to travel through OTHER PEOPLE's time frame. i.e. they may age at a different rate to you, and their time-pieces may operate at a different rate to yours.
So, travelling forward through time at a different rate to other people is very possible.
If you travel forward through time at a faster rate than someone else, they will grow older slower than you, but they will never grow younger than they were.
Time is unidirectional. It only ever advances, however it is the rate at which you pass through it that gives the sense of going back in time relative to someone else.
It seems physiologically impossible to "grow younger", no matter how fast you travel.
The summary is that it is impossible NOT to travel through time (unless you are dead, but I'm not going there)! It IS possible to travel through time at a different rate to other people. It is NOT possible to to travel "back" in your own time frame, and it is NOT possible to travel "back" in anyone else's time frame.
2006-10-20 04:09:08 · answer #5 · answered by Mez 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your question (if there is one) founders on the logic of "for the sake of argument" coupled with "then realized it might be impossible".
Have another go.
2006-10-13 18:16:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no question here.You say 'for the sake of argument it is possible to travel though time'. You then state it may not be possible. You don't actually ask anything.
2006-10-13 20:19:51 · answer #7 · answered by STEVEN F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Time is not a tangible entity, so ofcourse its not possible to travel through it. Einstein is supposed to have said it was possibke, but was he being sincere...or did he just not want to be seen to dismiss the possibility.
2006-10-21 13:55:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's all about the Delorean!
2006-10-13 18:20:37 · answer #9 · answered by Laquishacashaunette 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't do drugs dude
2006-10-13 18:21:34 · answer #10 · answered by dragor321 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋