The article explores the concept of time's arrow, emphasizing its irreversible nature in everyday experiences, like spilled water that cannot return. Andrea Rocco, a theoretical physicist, highlights the common understanding that time progresses only forward. Although current physics equations do not differentiate between forwards and backwards movement of time, the directionality becomes apparent in systems influenced by external factors, as opposed to isolated systems where time remains symmetric. This leads to deeper philosophical questions about the perception of time, particularly in the absence of change.
In our everyday lives, the arrow of time goes only in one direction: forward. We know this is something that's part of our common experience, says Andrea Rocco.
The concept of time becomes somewhat illusory in the absence of change. For instance, if our cup of water was held in stasis in a magic, perfectly insulated and physically impervious box floating in deep space.
When isolated systems are open to influence from the external environment, time symmetry is broken, whether via water evaporating or the cup tipping over.
The math used to describe most of the world makes no distinction between time moving forward and backward; either direction is viable in physics.
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