Why is space and time related?

Einstein, however, introduced the concept of a fourth dimension — time — that meant that space and time were inextricably linked. The general theory of relativity suggests that space-time expands and contracts depending on the momentum and mass of nearby matter.

Is space and time intertwined?

Starting from these two postulates, Einstein showed that space and time are intertwined in ways that scientists had never previously realized. Through a series of thought experiments, Einstein demonstrated that the consequences of special relativity are often counterintuitive — even startling.

How can space and time be the same thing?

Thus, space and time are effectively interchangeable, and fundamentally the same thing (or at least two different sides of the same coin), an effect which becomes much more noticeable at relativistic speeds approaching the speed of light.

What is the relationship between space and time?

Space-Time. Another corollary of special relativity is that, in effect, one person’s interval of space is another person’s interval of both time and space, and one person’s interval of time is also another person’s interval of both space and time. Thus, space and time are effectively interchangeable, and fundamentally the same thing…

What is the space-time interval?

(Click for a larger version) The path taken by an object in both space and time is known as the space-time interval. (Source: Wikibooks: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/. Special_Relativity/Spacetime)

Are space and time interchangeable?

Thus, space and time are effectively interchangeable, and fundamentally the same thing (or at least two different sides of the same coin), an effect which becomes much more noticeable at relativistic speeds approaching the speed of light.

What did Einstein mean by space-time?

Space-time. A subsequent paper of Einstein (1917) applies the theory of general relativity to cosmology, and in fact represents the birth of modern cosmology. In it, Einstein looks for models of the entire universe that satisfy his equations under suitable assumptions about the large-scale structure of the universe,…