Log in
Register
Menu
Log in
Register
Home
What's new
Latest activity
Authors
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Members
Current visitors
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Miscellaneous Sections
Tech Head - The Technology Section
Einstein's Alcove
Imaginary Time
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="spiney" data-source="post: 108836" data-attributes="member: 192438"><p>getting back to "imaginary" time .....</p><p></p><p>There's nothing imaginary about "i", it crops up quite naturally in equations, and is no more mysterious than the integers, 1,2,3 ... etc. Reason is, all numbers are equally mysterious! You can point to 5 things, but try defining "fiveness" without circular reference back to other numbers.</p><p></p><p>"i" was added to special relativity by Minkowski, giving "4 dimensional space-time", rather than just equations, but it's a "calculating fiction", it does not have particular physical significance.</p><p></p><p>In other calculations, "i" is used as a phase-shifter, as mentioned above, it "shifts" sine waves. That's so in electrical "i notation" (phasors), also quantum mechanics for the "matter-waves".</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="spiney, post: 108836, member: 192438"] getting back to "imaginary" time ..... There's nothing imaginary about "i", it crops up quite naturally in equations, and is no more mysterious than the integers, 1,2,3 ... etc. Reason is, all numbers are equally mysterious! You can point to 5 things, but try defining "fiveness" without circular reference back to other numbers. "i" was added to special relativity by Minkowski, giving "4 dimensional space-time", rather than just equations, but it's a "calculating fiction", it does not have particular physical significance. In other calculations, "i" is used as a phase-shifter, as mentioned above, it "shifts" sine waves. That's so in electrical "i notation" (phasors), also quantum mechanics for the "matter-waves". [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Miscellaneous Sections
Tech Head - The Technology Section
Einstein's Alcove
Imaginary Time
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…
Top