2006-12-13 03:45:48 · 14 answers · asked by themistocles 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
I am dismayed that so many people seem to think time was invented by man and that it doesn't exist outside of our own mind. And yet space and everything else CAN exist outside of our own mind. This is completely wrong.
Now, if you want to argue that NOTHING exists outside of our own minds, then I think you might have something worth discussing. But to say time isn't real, but space and matter are, that is just absurd.
Time and space are inseperable (space-time). In fact, time is just another dimension like the three spatial dimensions. The only difference is that in the time dimension we have very limited ability to move around, whereas in space we feel as though we have unrestricted movement.
So, to answer your question, yes, time would exist in a vacuum, and here's why:
A vacuum cannot exist with space. Space cannot exist without time. So, time must exist in (or better, as part of) a vacuum.
To echo another response, there is 'latent' energy in a vacuum, so even a perfect vacuum, while devoid of real matter, still contains something.
Anyways, I hope this helps.
2006-12-13 04:07:21 · answer #1 · answered by vidigod 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Time would still exist in a vacuum. In any vacuum there are still fluctuations of "nothingness" in both mass and energy. Mass fluctuations result in virtual pairs (electrons + positrons) that exist for a brief moment and then recombine. So - even in a perfect vacuum, fluctuations result in an imperfect vacuum. There is no reason to think time wouldn't exist.
2006-12-13 11:56:50 · answer #2 · answered by charlesbahr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The question is because according to Einstein's Theory of General Realtivity, matter (including energy) creates the geometry of space-time.
What do you mean by "perfect vacuum"? I'd guess you meant an area of space with no matter. What about energy?
Of course if you did have no matter or energy, there would be nothing to measure (and no tool to measure it with) and so you would have difficulty measuring time. But the laws of thermodynamics should still apply, and I consider time as equivalent to law #2.
2006-12-13 12:09:56 · answer #3 · answered by jrr7_05_02 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Surely it would exist!
why the heck r u comparing a phenomenon like vacuum to a physical quantity like time!!
2006-12-13 11:50:32 · answer #4 · answered by Som™ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A perfect vacuum is simply empty space,time can not be separated from space.
2006-12-14 10:07:40 · answer #5 · answered by Billy Butthead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Time would exist, but only in the form of the brief yet eternal moment where the perfect vacuum was.
2006-12-13 11:55:31 · answer #6 · answered by Dr. Obvious 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
"Time" is actually measured by the speed of light. Speed of light is measured in a vacuum. Of course it exist.
2006-12-13 12:07:51 · answer #7 · answered by gismo_28 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vacuum does not affect time.
2006-12-13 11:49:13 · answer #8 · answered by NotAfraid 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There is a vacuum in space, and there is still time, otherwise we could time travel
2006-12-13 11:53:30 · answer #9 · answered by darb_cu 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If the theory which say that time is made of particles is correct the answer would be no but that should be studied! P.S. great question!
2006-12-13 15:09:06 · answer #10 · answered by xXx - Twisted Whispers - xXx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋