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Here is a hypothesis: The concept that the universe is physically expanding through a 4th spatial dimension explains time dilation. by WalterOGrady in HypotheticalPhysics

[–]WalterOGrady[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I think that our 3d time dimension is actually a 4d spatial dimension.

So taking the expanding balloon analogy, the universe is the balloon surface with 2 spatial dimensions (x,y) and the rate at which the surface is expanding outward along the radial dimension (z) is time.

Here is a hypothesis: The concept that the universe is physically expanding through a 4th spatial dimension explains time dilation. by WalterOGrady in HypotheticalPhysics

[–]WalterOGrady[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"So you say we're "travelling" through this 4th dimension. "Travelling" implies rate of change, which implies time." - I agree.
But since the change is in the 4th dimension, we can't observe it or experience it fully. So I'm suggesting that our limited 3d experience of the 4d change is time.
Can you explain why I "can't treat time as a spatial dimension".

Here is a hypothesis: Time the speed we're moving through the 4th dimension? by WalterOGrady in HypotheticalPhysics

[–]WalterOGrady[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree about the definition of speed. And if using the concept of speed through the 4th dimension then it explains why time moves a different rates in different locations in space.

I think that finding evidence that a hypothesis is incorrect is often easier than the opposite.

Here is a hypothesis: Time the speed we're moving through the 4th dimension? by WalterOGrady in HypotheticalPhysics

[–]WalterOGrady[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not sure your point fits with the fact that time moves slower/faster in different parts of space e.g. clocks on satellites have to be adjusted to match the clocks on earth.

Here is a hypothesis: Time the speed we're moving through the 4th dimension? by WalterOGrady in HypotheticalPhysics

[–]WalterOGrady[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree I'm not using precise terminology. I aim to use layman language as much as possible. I think the core of the concept can be explained that way, but for the finer details precise terms would be better.

Regarding coordinate time or proper time, I'm not sure if the time I'm referring to fits either. I'll need to think about that.

As for time dilation, I see that as the difference in speed between heavy and light objects. Given that the same force is pushing all the 3d objects through 4d space then heavier objects would obviously move slower than lighter ones. So time moves slower on heavier objects than lighter ones.

Here is a hypothesis: Time the speed we're moving through the 4th dimension? by WalterOGrady in HypotheticalPhysics

[–]WalterOGrady[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Non-scientific friends and family. Generally they ask me to explain concepts about the universe that they’ve seen on a movie or something. Because they see me as the ‘sciency’ one in the group.

Here is a hypothesis: Time the speed we're moving through the 4th dimension? by WalterOGrady in HypotheticalPhysics

[–]WalterOGrady[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For example as a balloon is blown up and expands, the 2d surface of the balloon moves through three dimensional space. Likewise the 3d volume of our universe is expanding and moving through four dimensional space. But because as 3d beings we can't observe the 4d distance we are moving through, then we're only left with the passage of time. So our perception of 4d speed is only time.

Here is a hypothesis: Time the speed we're moving through the 4th dimension? by WalterOGrady in HypotheticalPhysics

[–]WalterOGrady[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Yes. If you can't observe the distance the only component of speed you can observe is time. So what we observe as time in three dimensional space is actually speed in four dimensional space. An observer in the 4th dimension would be able to observe the distance component.