From a scientific perspective every single observation of every single physics experiment which is consistent with any theory containing time (which is all of them) is scientific evidence of the existence of time. That is simply how science works. You have a model, the model makes experimental predictions, you preform the experiments, if the experiments are consistent with the prediction then you accept the model.DAC said:So what is the evidence it exists?
Probably the first person to wonder how long between Sun up and Sun down, how far one could go and be able to return to the cave before night fall. Note the two words (concepts) which in this context would have no meaning without a basic notion of time, even if one hasn't consciously become aware of it yet. But that's philosophy.DAC said:Hello PF.
Given time is a fundamental part of the universe, who discovered it? Assuming it exists doesn't count.
And per post #2, fairly scientific investigation into the concept of time predates the development of science itself by many thousands of years. Early "scientists/engineers" built fairly good instruments for measuring/using the passage of time - Stonehenge and the Mayan/Aztecs, for example.DaleSpam said:From a scientific perspective every single observation of every single physics experiment which is consistent with any theory containing time (which is all of them) is scientific evidence of the existence of time. That is simply how science works.
I was with you until this last part: it's a self contradiction.newjerseyrunner said:You can define it mathematically, but not really describe it.
You can describe it mathematically, but you can not describe it in terms of something familiar.russ_watters said:I was with you until this last part: it's a self contradiction.
On the contrary, I think we all have some sort of intuitive concept of time as ... well ... time.newjerseyrunner said:You can describe it mathematically, but you can not describe it in terms of something familiar.
While I agree with Orodruin, being able to describe something mathematically is far superior to a qualitatively description when it comes to describing/defining what something is.newjerseyrunner said:You can describe it mathematically, but you can not describe it in terms of something familiar.
I tend to think that all questions about "what X actually is" or "what X really is" tend to be non-scientific. Usually, those questions are asked of a perfectly well-defined quantity (like time or energy) in a scientific model with lots of corresponding experimental validation. I have yet to find anyone who asks the question with a proposed experiment in mind, so it seems that the question itself is a philosophical question.newjerseyrunner said:Trying to identify what time actually is is new.
The concept of time is a fundamental aspect of our daily lives, but its origins are still a subject of debate among scientists. Some theories suggest that time is a human construct, while others propose that it is a fundamental property of the universe. The exact origins of time are still unknown and continue to be explored by scientists.
Time is typically measured using units such as seconds, minutes, hours, days, and years. These units are based on the movement of celestial bodies, such as the Earth's rotation and the Moon's orbit around the Earth. More precise measurements of time are made using atomic clocks, which measure the frequency of radiation emitted by atoms.
According to Einstein's theory of relativity, time and space are interconnected and form a four-dimensional continuum known as spacetime. This means that the measurement of time can be affected by an object's velocity and gravitational field. The concept of spacetime has revolutionized our understanding of the universe and has led to many important discoveries in modern physics.
The concept of time has evolved throughout history and has been perceived differently by different cultures. For instance, ancient civilizations often viewed time as cyclical and tied to natural phenomena, while modern societies tend to view time as linear and measure it using precise units. The invention of clocks and other time-measuring devices has also greatly influenced our perception of time and its importance in our daily lives.
Scientists are currently exploring a wide range of topics related to the origins of time, including the nature of the Big Bang and the possibility of a multiverse. Other areas of research include the study of black holes and their effects on time, as well as the search for a unified theory that can explain the fundamental forces of the universe, including time. The ongoing exploration of these topics has the potential to greatly expand our understanding of time and its origins.