My reading indicates that many physicists think that space-time has an actual 'fabric' to it; it is a 'plenum' full of exotic 'things' such as virtual particles, wave fluctuations, and so on. If this is right, then is space-time itself the "ether" that Newton speculated about? If space-time is an actual "thing" unto itself and not mere "nothingness", does that "thing" ever move? Or could it be the one completely motionless thing there is?
2007-02-10 06:11:57 · 4 answers · asked by Mr_Sageseer 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
space-time ( ST ) is a concept used to describe a system of measurement for locating events and entities in relation to each other.
your question is a deep one but answerable ( and arguable ).
according to modern physical theory, we exist IN space-time ( and thus move thru it ) .
space-time itself however, is RELATIVE, according to Einstein's theory. this does NOT mean that it moves however as you suggest.
if space-time moves, then we would need "another" space-time to provide us with a medium for spacetime to exist and move in.
to answer your question, spacetime is motionless but its actual size and duration is relative to the observer.
on the deep end, your question points to the most fundamental dogma in all of science, do we exist in spacetime or does spacetime exist in our minds ?
enjoy
2007-02-10 17:30:07 · answer #1 · answered by fullbony 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spacetimes are the arenas in which all physical events take place. The term spacetime has taken on a generalized meaning with the advent of higher-dimensional theories. How many dimensions are needed to describe the universe is still an open question. However, a spacetime that describes our entire universe's events is the ultimate goal. With this in mind, therefore, spacetime is basically a coordinate system which has to be fixed in order to describe the movements of the events taken place within.
2007-02-10 15:00:37 · answer #2 · answered by Bill C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't you think it would be like riding in a car along side a train moving in the same direction and speed...... They are both moving, but in relation to each other, not moving.......
Just a thought from your question.
2007-02-10 14:16:00 · answer #3 · answered by wildbill05733 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its all relative.
2007-02-10 14:15:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋