7. Time and Space: So I learn about something called "Absolute Time"

And obviously this means that I have to reconsider what I think I know.

WHAT IS ABSOLUTE TIME

Newton introduced the idea of absolute time. Although he understood that clocks weren't perfect and measuring time was subject to human error, Newton believed in an absolute time that was similar to a universal, omnipotent God-like time, one that was the same for everyone, everywhere. In other words, someone standing at the North Pole on Earth would experience time the same way as someone standing on Mars.


Luckily, it is debunked. We are getting nearer to a picture here.

WHY TIME BEING ABSOLUTE MAKES SENSE

First of all, a clear understanding of the concept of time (2) is necessary.

Time is reckoned by noting the intervals that occur by the motion of material things.

Historically, this has meant how many times the sun is at its highest point in the sky (days), the moon at the same phase (month), and the passing of the seasons (year).

Recognition of the passage of time is always in relation to something material.


WHY TIME IS NOT ABSOLUTE BUT SPECIFIC ABSOLUTE, THUS NOT A UNIVERSAL ABSOLUTE

Every material thing can also be said to have an absolute character, providing we choose the appropriate reference frame to consider with.

when time is measured within a system, it is a constant to this system. This is a specific absolute, not a universal absolute.

A "moving" system is the same as a "resting" system from the perspective of those doing the measuring within the system.

To further explain this: What is the universal fact to be witnessed by all observers who are part of an inertial frame?

It is that all things that are at rest in that system will stay that way and that things that are set in motion will continue that motion in a straight line with a constant speed unless acted upon by external forces (Newton's first law of motion).

An inertial frame is a frame of reference in which bodies are not accelerated from the perspective of within the system.

Yet, the whole inertial frame of reference will be accelerated relative to something else.

The important point here is that gravity accelerates all material things (including light) equally together, so that an inertial observer will notice that all things move equally and together within his system, even though his entire system will be accelerating relative to something else.

His space-time region will be perceived as being flat and isotropic.

From http://home.pacbell.net/skeptica/time.html


NOW TO FINALISE, TILO, LADDIE AND MYSELF WILL TAKE A GO AT IT

**Now consider I am standing still and looking at Laddie and Tilo run towards me. I can measure the time at which they take to reach me. Time is then absolute since I am not moving.

But consider the same scenario when I am running away from them as they run towards me. Suddenly the same time to reach me becomes pulled out and stretched.

Time has become relative to the speed at which Tilo and Laddie and me are moving at.

In actual reality, we all are constantly in motion since our earth is in motion in relation to itself and also in relation to the universe. Just like how Tilo and Laddie's positions and mine are never truly fixed in the second scenario.

Thus through this simple illustration, we can see that Absolute time is not possible on both Earth and Mars.**