In a distance/time graph, is time the independent variable? If so, does it go on the x-axis or y-axis?
2006-11-06 02:48:58 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
No, time is dependant on your frame of reference according to Einstiens theory of relativity. The Twins paradox demonstrates this well. A pair of twins, both born on the same day. One remains on Earth, the other blasts off in a space ship travelling at 70% of the speed of light. The space explorer returns after what appears to be one year in space but upon landing finds that the other twin has long since died of old age, so has all his friends. Time slows down the closer you get to the speed of light. It also slows down the closer you get to large gravity wells like black holes.
2006-11-06 02:55:37 · answer #1 · answered by SteveA8 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
time is the independent variable, you should measure the position in equal time intervals. You choose the intervals (say, every second), hence the name "independent". Time goes on the x-axis, as do all independent variables.
2006-11-06 03:03:49 · answer #2 · answered by socrmom 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think time is a DEpendent on space and vice versa. In other words, if you are observing a person inside a machine that distorts time or space, you will probably see the following:
If time slows down for this person, his body will 'seem' to stretch, and if time goes faster for this person, he will 'seem' shorter.
And since that person is 3 demensional, the distortion will be on all 3 demensions, and so I believe that time would be the lines that connects all these axis (3 demensions) together.
2006-11-06 04:07:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋