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In physics, spacetime is a mathematical model that fuses the three dimensions of space and the one dimension of time into a single four-dimensional continuum. Spacetime diagrams are useful in visualizing and understanding relativistic effects such as how different observers perceive where and when events occur.
May 16, 2024 · Space-time, in physical science, single concept that recognizes the union of space and time, first proposed by the mathematician Hermann Minkowski in 1908 as a way to reformulate Albert Einstein’s special theory of relativity (1905). Learn more about space-time in this article.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
May 9, 2018 · Atoms of Spacetime. Heat is the random motion of microscopic parts, such as the molecules of a gas. Because black holes can warm up and cool down, it stands to reason that they have parts—or ...
- George Musser
- 2018
- Who Discovered space-time?
- How Space-Time Works
- What Scientists Still Don't Know
- Additional Resources
The famous physicist Albert Einstein helped develop the idea of space-time as part of his theory of relativity. Prior to his pioneering work, scientists had two separate theories to explain physical phenomena: Isaac Newton's laws of physics described the motion of massive objects, while James Clerk Maxwell's electromagnetic models explained the pro...
Nowadays, when people talk about space-time, they often describe it as resembling a sheet of rubber. This, too, comes from Einstein, who realized as he developed his theory of general relativity that the force of gravitywas due to curves in the fabric of space-time. Massive objects — like the Earth, sun or you — create distortions in space-time tha...
Despite its intricacy, relativity remains the best way to account for the physical phenomena we know about. Yet scientists know that their models are incomplete because relativity is still not fully reconciled with quantum mechanics, which explains the properties of subatomic particles with extreme precision but does not incorporate the force of gr...
Read more about Einstein's space-time on Stanford University's Gravity Probe B.Paul Sutter explains why Einstein's theory of relativity is true, for Space.com.Watch: "Are Space and Time An Illusion?" From PBS Space Time.Feb 1, 2022 · February 1, 2022. 15 min read. What Is Spacetime Really Made Of? Spacetime may emerge from a more fundamental reality. Figuring out how could unlock the most urgent goal in physics—a quantum...
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What does spacetime mean?
What is space-time in physical science?
What is space & time?
How does spacetime work?
Gravity feels strongest where spacetime is most curved, and it vanishes where spacetime is flat. This is the core of Einstein's theory of general relativity, which is often summed up in words as follows: "matter tells spacetime how to curve, and curved spacetime tells matter how to move" .
In physics, spacetime is any mathematical model that combines space and time into a single continuum. It is a mathematical concept used to refer to all points of space and time and their relation to each other. Historically, space and time were thought of as separate entities.
