'Time' is not considered a 'dimension' in the general sense of how we define our existing 3 dimensions viz., length, breadth, and height. But, first let us try to understand what exactly is 'Time'.
If you consider the entire Universe as a 3D world and try to map it on a paper, you'll get 3 planes (let's say x, y, and z), which is how we represent length, breadth, and height. So, the entire Universe, as we know it, can be represented on these 3-axes. And, your position in the Universe can be represented by co-ordinates on these 3-axes. However, to do that we need a frame of reference, which will basically define a center and chart out unit measurements on these 3-axes. And, we usually consider our position on the planet as the frame of reference. Or, basically wherever you are right now. So based on that frame of reference, you have a particular co-ordinate that represents your location in the Universe.
Now, here comes the interesting part. Universe, as we know it, is constantly moving. Or, let me say, earth is constantly rotating on its axis; and it is also constantly revolving around Sun; the entire solar system is revolving around our galaxy, Milky Way; and Milky Way is also constantly revolving around the center of Universe. In fact, by the time you started reading this message you have already traveled through thousands of kms in Universal space.
So, if I now, instead of considering my immediate position on earth as my frame of reference, consider center of the Universe as the center of our frame of reference. Our life progression becomes nothing but a simple movement on this Universal 3-axes plane. So, what we understand by 'time' becomes nothing but our progression in each of these 3-axes planes. Or, a spiraling line moving through the 3-dimensional axes.
Now, here's why we don't consider 'time' as the 4th dimension. It is because for us 'time' is unidirectional i.e., we cannot retrace our path on the Universal 3-axes world. And, to give it a unit of measurement to this progression in Universal 3D axes, we decided to define a second (which is the duration of 9192631770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium 133 atom).
If you consider the entire Universe as a 3D world and try to map it on a paper, you'll get 3 planes (let's say x, y, and z), which is how we represent length, breadth, and height. So, the entire Universe, as we know it, can be represented on these 3-axes. And, your position in the Universe can be represented by co-ordinates on these 3-axes. However, to do that we need a frame of reference, which will basically define a center and chart out unit measurements on these 3-axes. And, we usually consider our position on the planet as the frame of reference. Or, basically wherever you are right now. So based on that frame of reference, you have a particular co-ordinate that represents your location in the Universe.
Now, here comes the interesting part. Universe, as we know it, is constantly moving. Or, let me say, earth is constantly rotating on its axis; and it is also constantly revolving around Sun; the entire solar system is revolving around our galaxy, Milky Way; and Milky Way is also constantly revolving around the center of Universe. In fact, by the time you started reading this message you have already traveled through thousands of kms in Universal space.
So, if I now, instead of considering my immediate position on earth as my frame of reference, consider center of the Universe as the center of our frame of reference. Our life progression becomes nothing but a simple movement on this Universal 3-axes plane. So, what we understand by 'time' becomes nothing but our progression in each of these 3-axes planes. Or, a spiraling line moving through the 3-dimensional axes.
Now, here's why we don't consider 'time' as the 4th dimension. It is because for us 'time' is unidirectional i.e., we cannot retrace our path on the Universal 3-axes world. And, to give it a unit of measurement to this progression in Universal 3D axes, we decided to define a second (which is the duration of 9192631770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium 133 atom).
No comments:
Post a Comment