To
the Lord of the Universe
Index
1. Premise
2. Classical Theory of Relativity
3. Why the Classical Theory of Relativity applies to time
4. Evolution of the study of motion of bodies in space
5. Conclusion
1. Premise
The senses of human beings appreciate the time differently,
depending on where the person is: the earth or outer space. The senses of an
astronaut in his space lab only perceive the darkness of the universe around
him and the light of the celestial bodies in the distance; this reveals that
for the astronaut time does not present significant evidence of physical
change. The opposite occurs on earth, where the senses of people permanently
capture the biggest and most visible consequences of the passage of time as the
day and night and the seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall. For the
foregoing reasons, I have concluded that the Theory of Classical Relativity or
Theory of Relativity of Galileo Galilei is also applicable to time; to explain
this idea is the main objective of this essay.
2. Classical
Theory of Relativity
In the western world, philosophers and scientists of
Antiquity, the Middle Age and Modern Age were interested in discovering the
secrets of the universe but some of his discoveries were ignored and sometimes
censored by the limitations imposed by religion at that time. The best known is
the case of Galileo Galilee (1564-1642), condemned by the Inquisition for
remember and support the theory of Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543), who years
earlier had claimed that the sun and not the earth was the center of the
universe, and that earth, moon and planets revolves the sun.
In his extensive scientific work, Galileo showed great
interest in the study of the motion of bodies in space. Galileo said that the
motion of bodies is relative and depends on where the observer perceives
motion. This premise of Galileo may be checked easily when you travel in an
airplane or on a ship. If you see through the window of the airplane or watch inside
the plane you do not feel that the plane is moving. The aircraft movement is
imperceptible to who is inside. The same applies to those who are in the
interior of a ship. But people who are on the ground or are in another boat if
can perceive the movement of the aircraft or ship. If you look at this time
around, the earth seems quiet; you do not perceive that the earth is moving;
however, in reality, the earth is moving at a speed of 108,000 kilometers per
hour, but human beings here on earth do not feel it. Instead, an astronaut from
a space station if can perceive the movement of the earth. These examples
explain in practical terms what is known as the Theory of Classical Relativity
or Theory of Relativity of Galileo Galilee.
3. Why the
Classical Theory of Relativity applies to time
So far, the Classical Theory of Relativity has been
applied only to the motion of bodies in space. But I think the theory is applicable
to time because the same premises applicable to the assessment of the movement
of bodies in space are also applicable to the assessment of the time in space.
Indeed, the same that happens with the
appreciation of the motion of bodies on the ground, depending on where the
observer is, it does occurs with the
appreciation of time, depending on if the observer is in the earth or in
outer space. From the earth humans perceive the consequences of time; but an
astronaut in his space station does not see these changes in his environment
because in the cosmos there is not day nor night, nor winter, spring, summer or
fall. From his space laboratory he only can see the areas of light and shadow
of earth but does not perceive the effects of time in outer space around him;
therefore, we can say that the appreciation of time is relative and depends on
where the observer is: the earth or outer space.
4.
Evolution of the study of the motion of bodies in space
Since ancient times man has tried to understand the
motion of bodies in space, beginning with the motion of the earth and stars.
Studies by Isaac Newton, in the 17th century, show that the most
ancient civilizations Babylon, Chaldea, Egypt, Greece and Rome knew that the
earth and the planets revolve around the sun. There is evidence that prove that
a Greek astronomer, Aristarchus of Samos (310 BC -230 BC), first introduced the
idea of Heliocentrism. However, historical sources have attributed the
authorship of the concept only to Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543), for his book
On the celestial spheres (1531).
Copernicus’s work was continued by a German
mathematician and astronomer, Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), who studied the
motion of the planets and created three concepts known as Kepler's laws, which
confirm that the earth and planets move around the sun in an elliptical shape
and variable speed depending on the distance from the sun: maximum speed at perihelion
and minimal speed at aphelion.
Isaac Newton (1643-1727), English philosopher and
mathematician continued and expanded the research of his predecessors. He
studied the phenomenon of light and created a new discipline, the mathematical
calculation, to predict the changes of matter. He formulated the Universal Law
of Gravitation that explains the attraction between the bodies. Newton deduced
that the sun, by its gigantic mass attracts the earth and planets. Earth
attracts the moon, planets attract each other and in the same way the earth
attracts the apple falling to it. It is the gravitational
force, according to Newton, which operates throughout the universe, so that
gravity is a universal law.
Newton formulated three concepts about the effect that
exert the force on the motion of bodies, ideas known as Newton's laws. He also
studied the properties of matter and concluded that the bodies become light and
vice versa, anticipating the concept of mass and energy as a unit, developed two
hundred years after by Albert Einstein.
In 1905, the scientist Albert Einstein (1879-1955),
published his Theory of Special Relativity, which explains the motion of bodies
in space and adds a new dimension: time, which represents a complete revolution
in the study of the subject, since previous scientists had considered time as
an absolute magnitude. Einstein changed the concept and demonstrated that time is
relative and integrates an indivisible unit with space. In 1915 he expands its
studies on the subject and develops the Theory of General Relativity, which
explains how space, time, matter and energy are related.
Einstein develops a new theory of gravity and ensures
that the mass of bodies curve space
around and that is the cause of attraction between bodies. He said that the gravitational force does not exist;
it is the curvature of space what pushes the bodies. The sun, with its large
mass bends the space around the earth and therefore the earth is attracted to
the sun. The earth, with its large mass bends space around and attracts the
moon. The planets bend space around and attract each other. His theory of the curvature of space was verified by
testing at times of solar eclipse in the twenties and observing Mercury's orbit
around the sun. Both tests found that light bends in space around the sun. This
changed the idea of gravity that survived two hundred years since Isaac Newton
formulated his Theory of Universal Gravitation. Einstein therefore created a
new theory of gravity that represents a new vision of the universe.
In parallel, Einstein studied the laws of matter and
explained how the mass of bodies is converted into energy, giving rise to a new
reality in the world: the Atomic Age.
5.
Conclusion
Only as a metaphor, we could talk about the existence
of a cosmic time and human time. But that distinction is an arbitrary creation
used solely to better understand reality, because time is one only in the
cosmos and on earth. Humans have created limited time concepts that do not
exist in reality but serve to organize the activities of life: seconds, minutes,
hours, days, weeks, months and years. The concept of time in units of measurement
is a human invention. The cosmic time is one only in one only space where the
Astros are in permanent motion.
Space and time is one unit. In the cosmos that unit is
perfect and indissoluble. But on earth humans make distinction between one and
another supported by the physical evidence provided the phenomena of day, night
and seasons, phenomena which, in turn, lead to changes in nature. These changes
are evidence of the passage of time.
In cosmic time there is no second, minute, hour, week,
month or year. All that exists is the motion of the stars; that is the measure
of time.
The cosmic time is only one dimension inseparably united
to cosmic space.
Galileo could not apply his theory of relativity to
time for a simple reason: because in his epoch space travel was not known and,
therefore, he could not know that time in space is seen differently than on earth.
But human beings of the 20th
and 21st century know
the perspective of the universe from space by mean of photographs and other
evidence taken in outer space; so man can today to distinguish the time from
Earth and the time from space. Consequently, we can conclude that the Classical
Theory of Relativity of Galileo may be applied today to time; that is my
hypothesis.
Other essays by the author on the theme:
Relativity of the mathematical
exactitude
Space and time is one unit
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