stupid space-time question

pyoko · Oct 3, 2007

If the Universe stopped expanding and everything stopped relative to everything else, would time stop? Theoretically. I know this is a silly question, but it's driving me nuts. Please don't hit me. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> -pyoko the duck It is by will alone I set my mind in motion. </div>

lukman · Oct 4, 2007

Time will stop if we reach speed of light. Time at stationary is faster than moving object, right? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

kmarinas86 · Oct 4, 2007

If the Universe stopped expanding and everything stopped relative to everything else, would time stop? Theoretically. Time wouldn't stop. It would lose its relevance.

kmarinas86 · Oct 4, 2007

Time will stop if we reach speed of light. Time at stationary is faster than moving object, right? As the ship approaches the speed of light, the ship accelerates. This will cause an inherent change in ship's clock, that will last even after we slow back down. The ships time cannot stop, but will become exceedingly slow as it reaches the speed of light. The universe would evolve before the eyes of the captain, but to us he would be nearly motionless.

observer7 · Oct 4, 2007

everything stopped relative to everything else That would seem to me to indicate that time stops. After all, the only way to measure time is by change. No change, no time passes. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "Time exists so that everything doesn't happen at once" Albert Einstein </div>

R1 · Oct 4, 2007

that is interesting, maybe explain your question some more because first it's if the universe stops expanding, but you did add the specification that everything else stops. If everything in the universe stops including absolute zero degree K then the time would stop. The light from a cesium clocking atom in front of you wouldn't even reach you. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

bdewoody · Oct 4, 2007

I'm not sure if I understand the question either. Does he mean that stars and galaxies hold their relative positions to each other but planets and other objects continue to orbit their respective stars or is he implying that everyting stops moving incuding us? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Bob DeWoody </div>

heyscottie · Oct 4, 2007

...everything, including atomic vibrations, virtual particles, etc all become stationary with respect to one another? If you carry it to the extreme, then all force mediator particles have stopped, too. Then nothing can happen. And what would be the meaning of time? If nothing can change, there can be no intervals for them to change over. So if really and truly everything stops, time has lost all meaning, ability to be measured, and, I would argue, existence.

pyoko · Oct 4, 2007

Thanks for the replies so far. To expand: what I mean is everything does stop. Even the planets. In fact, even the atoms. Zero K, yes. Time would lose it's relevance? Perhaps. Because everything will be truely stationary. But would time stop? Perhaps in a theoretical model? I guess what I am truly looking for is not a philosophical answer, but a theoretical one. If you plug those things into the equation, what do you get? PS I do not want this thread going in the direction of the 'ship approaching light speed'. It's been done 1000 times before. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> -pyoko the duck It is by will alone I set my mind in motion. </div>

SpeedFreek · Oct 4, 2007

Well it's hard to plug that into the equations, as such. We can say that an object in free fall, in intergalactic space, outside of any gravity bound system, is at rest with respect to absolute space-time. But that objects clock would move faster than another object within those gravity bound systems. But if all atoms stop moving then no clocks would work. No photons would bounce off those clocks and into any retina. No electrical impulses would transmit any information anywhere. If the four forces "stopped", everything might simply dissipate! But nothing is allowed to move in this scenario, so perhaps we can safely assume that time stops. Then again, what about the "quantum foam"? Can particles still pop in and out of existence if everything else stops? This question is totally outside of science I think. I would simply say that if everything stops, then everything stops, and leave it at that! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> _______________________________________________ SpeedFreek </div>

pyoko · Oct 4, 2007

I think that's the answer I wanted. To my really silly question. The answer is: it doesn't make sense to ask this question in a scientific way. Thanks <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> I guess it's not possible to be truely rid of relativity. By the way, speedfreek.. that post was your 1001st! Congrats. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> -pyoko the duck It is by will alone I set my mind in motion. </div>

SpeedFreek · Oct 4, 2007

Wow, I will be a star soon! <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> (he says, whilst trying not to make it look too much like he is bumping up his post count!) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> _______________________________________________ SpeedFreek </div>

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