What is space-time according to the text?
Q: What is space-time according to the text?
A: Space-time is a mathematical model that connects space and time, forming a four-dimensional continuum known as Minkowski space.
Q: How has combining space and time helped cosmology?
A: Combining space and time has allowed cosmology to better understand how the universe works on both the big level, such as galaxies, and the small level, such as atoms.
Q: Why is the use of Euclidean space instead of space-time good in non-relativistic classical mechanics?
A: In non-relativistic classical mechanics, the use of Euclidean space is good because time is treated as universal with a constant rate of passage that is independent of an observer's state of motion.
Q: Why is time inseparable from the three dimensions of space in a relativistic universe?
A: Time cannot be separated from the three dimensions of space in a relativistic universe because the observed rate at which time passes depends on an object's velocity relative to the observer.
Q: How does the strength of a gravitational field affect the passage of time for an object?
A: The strength of any gravitational field slows the passage of time for an object as seen by an observer outside the field.
Q: What is the name of the four-dimensional continuum that joins space and time?
A: The four-dimensional continuum that joins space and time is called Minkowski space.
Q: How has the combination of space and time helped cosmology understand the universe?
A: The combination of space and time has helped cosmology to better understand the workings of the universe, including on both the big level, such as galaxies, and the small level, such as atoms.
