Catastrophe
"Science begets knowledge, opinion ignorance.
Billslugg, you stated: "the connection is between space and time".
Speed = Distance / Time. Therefore Distance = Speed x Time. In Newtonian terms.
If, as you suggest, "the sum of distance and time is conserved", then both must be expressed in compatible units. By this, you cannot state that 2 apples + 3 oranges = 5 oranges.
Likewise, you cannot state that 2 miles + 3 hours = 5 miles or 5 hours.
What you can do, of course, is to use a relationship between two quantities in compatible terms.
E.g., 2 apples + 3 oranges = 5 fruit, or
2 red apples + 3 green apples = 5 apples, or
2 girls named Sue + 3 girls named Pam = 5 girls.
So you must make your units compatible.
Using "the sum of distance and time is conserved" you must make the units compatible.
Trying to do this, we get distance +(time x speed) = total distance.
To be accurate, you need to say "the sum of distance, and of distance expressed as (time x speed) is conserved. Or, more concisely, "the sum of distance and time, reduced to compatible units is conserved".
Saying "the sum of distance and time is conserved" is definitely incorrect.
You would not say "I live 5 miles and ten minutes away from work. "It's a mess."
Cat
Speed = Distance / Time. Therefore Distance = Speed x Time. In Newtonian terms.
If, as you suggest, "the sum of distance and time is conserved", then both must be expressed in compatible units. By this, you cannot state that 2 apples + 3 oranges = 5 oranges.
Likewise, you cannot state that 2 miles + 3 hours = 5 miles or 5 hours.
What you can do, of course, is to use a relationship between two quantities in compatible terms.
E.g., 2 apples + 3 oranges = 5 fruit, or
2 red apples + 3 green apples = 5 apples, or
2 girls named Sue + 3 girls named Pam = 5 girls.
So you must make your units compatible.
Using "the sum of distance and time is conserved" you must make the units compatible.
Trying to do this, we get distance +(time x speed) = total distance.
To be accurate, you need to say "the sum of distance, and of distance expressed as (time x speed) is conserved. Or, more concisely, "the sum of distance and time, reduced to compatible units is conserved".
Saying "the sum of distance and time is conserved" is definitely incorrect.
You would not say "I live 5 miles and ten minutes away from work. "It's a mess."
Cat