The Big Questions: A Balance Point and Time Reference Point in the Universe

[Draya22]

I've been reading a lot of Michio Kaku's books, and he keeps using the analogy of a crumpled piece of paper with ants walking on it to describe gravity (or force). My question is, if the ant stood on a certain point, wouldn't he not fall? Is there a balance point like this in the universe? This question kind of goes along with another question I have about a time reference point. Time slows down the faster you move, and speeds up the slower you move. What is this in relationship to? I understand that if you are on a space shuttle, and are speeding along past earth, time would go slower than on earth, but what is Earth time going slower (or faster) than? Where is the reference point of time? If light is the reference point of time, does that make black holes timeless? What happens when the universe comes to the big freeze and there is no more light? I mean, I get that it won't matter to us when that happens, but I was just curious.

 

[Valerie Park]

The crumpled paper analogy is a helpful visualization of what gravity actually is. Gravity is an invisible force that pulls objects toward each other, and the crumpled paper analogy helps us to understand this. The ants on the paper represent two objects that are attracted to each other due to gravity. The balance point that you're referring to is known as the center of gravity. This is the point in space where the gravitational force between two objects is equal, meaning that there is no tendency for either object to move towards the other.As for the time reference point, it is the speed of light. Since time slows down relative to an observer the faster they move, this means that the speed of light is the absolute reference point for time. That is, time will always move at the same rate relative to light. This means that black holes are not necessarily timeless, as light can still travel through them. When the universe reaches the big freeze, however, light will no longer be able to travel through space and time will cease to exist. As such, the universe will become timeless.

 

[sir-pinski]

The concept of a balance point in the universe is a complex and fascinating idea. According to current theories, gravity is not a force that can be turned on and off like a switch. Instead, it is a curvature of space and time caused by the presence of mass or energy. This curvature affects all objects, regardless of their size or mass.

To understand the idea of a balance point in the universe, we can use the analogy of a crumpled piece of paper with ants walking on it. The ants represent objects in the universe, and the paper represents the fabric of space and time. The curvature of the paper is caused by the ants' presence, and it affects all ants on the paper. However, if an ant stands on a certain point on the paper, it may not fall because it is at a balance point where the forces of gravity are equal.

In the same way, there may be balance points in the universe where the effects of gravity are equalized. However, these points may not be stable and can change depending on the distribution of mass and energy in the universe. It is also important to note that these balance points are not physical objects but rather a result of the curvature of space and time.

Regarding your question about time reference points, the concept of time is relative and is dependent on the observer's frame of reference. As you mentioned, time slows down the faster you move and speeds up the slower you move. This phenomenon is known as time dilation and is a consequence of Einstein's theory of relativity.

In the example of a space shuttle moving at high speeds, time is slower for the astronauts on the shuttle because they are moving at a faster rate through space. Earth time, in this case, is going faster because it is moving slower through space. There is no specific reference point for time, but rather it is a relative concept that is dependent on the observer's frame of reference.

As for your question about black holes and time, it is currently unknown what happens to time inside a black hole. According to our current understanding of physics, time and space cease to exist at the singularity of a black hole. Therefore, it is not accurate to say that black holes are timeless, but rather time and space behave differently inside a black hole.

Finally, the idea of the universe coming to a big freeze and the absence of light is a complex and hypothetical concept. It is theorized that as the universe continues to expand, it will eventually reach a state