Can time exist without matter?

Question

Or would it exist but be meaningless?

Answer 1

Neither space nor time would exist without matter, and it's all due to relativity.

All the answers before this one are interesting from a phylosophical point of view, but don't answer your question in a physics sence, so here goes:

The dimentions of space and time are defined by the matter contained therein. It isn't a case of matter existing in space and time, it's a case of space and time only existing due to the existance of matter. This baffled Einstein until he figured out that the speed of light is the constant. Now, photons are the exchange particle of the electromagnetic force. These, coupled with the gluon and the (yet to be observed) graviton explain how force and energy are exchanged through spacetime. However, spacetime is dynamic and it isn't sufficient to say these fundimental bosons are travelling through spacetime, more that they are defining the dimentions of spacetime by their very existance. This is why massy objects distort spacetime: spacetime is related to the density of graviton exchange.

It is a difficult concept to visualise, but it is a genuine theory (Yukawa's theory).

So, if there was no matter (massy or non-massy) there would be no exchange particles, ergo no fundimental bosons, ergo nothing to define spacetime, ergo no spacetime. This is not simply a case of observation or reference points (like the 'tree falling in the woods, does it make a sound' question). No, spacetime CAN NOT exist without matter because it is matter than defines spacetime in its entirety.

I hope this answers your question. Without matter, time would not exist. Neither would space.

Answer 2

I think time can exist without matter, because time is part of space-time continuum. Space-time continuum is the fundamental fabric of the Universe, in which matter and energy exist. Let's take out the matter and leave just the energy. Energy can undergo periodic events too, so the concept of time would apply to energy as well. For example, the oscillations of an electromagnetic field can occur in vacuum, in the absence of any matter. These oscillations are periodic events that have a certain frequency, thus they fall under the concept of time too. If you take all energy out of empty space (even though it's not possible), then time would not make any sense. I guess, in a way you could say that time would cease to exist in that case, but time is an abstract concept, and abstract things don't appear or dissapear like physical objects do. Rather, time is a quantifiable aspect of the world which can become unmeasurable when there is nothing to measure.

Answer 3

Time can not exist (as we know it) without energy. Light photons travel at the speed of light, which is a velocity or distance per unit of time. Humans can not exist of course without energy and matter. Although many creatures on earth are affected by the passage of time (especially seasons) few creatures are self-aware and likely have no concept of time. But time (even to dumb creatures) is not meaningless. A clock can measure time without any knowledge of what it is measuring. Humans are still trying to understand all the details.

Answer 4

Everything is meaningless if there's no one around to observe it. Time would still exist since it's part of space-time, and taking matter away doesn't change that. It just makes an empty universe. But time in an empty universe is just as good as if it didn't exist, because the way you observe time is to watch matter change.

Answer 5

It would exist, but meaningless. One crucial feature of passing time is difference in the universe from one instant of time to another. If there is no matter, there is nothing that to change and so it would be impossible to say whether time exists or not.

Answer 6

There is no corelation beween the two, Time is simply a measurement or reference invented by humans. Matter exists, wether or not there are humans around to try and determine how long it has existed. Example: if you travel down a highway you can measure the distance by the passing of mile-markers,BUT, if no-one was driving down the highway it would still exist. Interesting question, I hope this helps.

Answer 7

Time is a complex number i.e its an imaginary dimension. In special relativity time is consider to be an imaginary dimension representing the four dimension. The other three dimension are height width length and last but not least time.

In relativity matter or inertia matter that have mass above zero will usually experience time. Since mass is associated with matter any matter in the universe will experience time. The reason is that matter usually travel less than the speed of light and simply putting you must travel at the speed of light not to experience time. One particle actually travel at the speed of light you guessed it its light. Light or photon is an energy since it doesn't have any inertia mass it will travel at the speed which to be exact is 300 000km\sec. Let me clarify one last thing you can slow down time traveling close to the speed of light.

Answer 8

I would theoretically exist, according to General relativity (there are vacuum solutions to space-time), but without clocks, it could not be measured. As for it being meaningless, it depends on what you mean by meaningful. Or, as Bill Clinton is said to have said, "What is is?"

Answer 9

What is time but the changing of cercumstances given name? With nothing to measure time by there would be no time.

Answer 10

Time is a man made idea. So no! cuz no matter = no life = no human = no human ideas.