Question

Is time a vector quantity ?

Answer 1

Nope.

Answer 2

Explain.

Answer 3

Well how would you do vector addition for time?

Answer 4

My point is that if vector is scalar then how does it move in a direction which is from present to the future.

Answer 5

I also heard that spacetime is a vector quantity.

Answer 6

Time is a scalar quantity... time is not defined by having a direction. it is a bit hard to explain, but if you study Einstein's theory of special relativity detailed you can might give a better explanation than me.

Answer 7

What about the argument have written above that it should have a direction ?

Answer 8

Well you kinda say it your self... it always goes from present to the future... if the vectors of time always have the same direction, then it would be useless to talk about a vector.

Answer 9

@Frostbite So you agree it goes in a certain direction from present to past ?

Maybe time travel maybe possible soon you cannot say anything :/

Answer 10

Well time travel you can argue easy against because if you can time travel you violate the law of conservation of energy.

Answer 11

@Frostbite Well,I asked my teacher : Is time a vector quantity and he was like:stop asking me such stupid questions lol :P

Well,As soon as we are progressing most of the things are being proved wrong.

The latest research says that we can go in the future i guess but not go in the past.

Answer 12

Moreover,If time is a scalar quantity how do we talk about present,past and future ?

But we are actually travelling forward in time over a certain rate.

Answer 13

@naveenbabbar What is your idea on this matter?

Answer 14

If we talk about Einstein's theory of special relativity then according to that space time is a vector.

Answer 15

@naveenbabbar Yes ?

Answer 16

@shubhamsrg

Answer 17

Will you call current a vector ? It has both direction and magnitude. hmmm??

Answer 18

I would more say as a contravariant of vectors...

Answer 19

@hero

Answer 20

@ajprincess

Answer 21

Ofcorse not, reason being current does not follow vector laws of addition and subtraction!

A vector is quantity having both direction and magnitude + follows vector laws of addition and subtraction.
Hence time is not vector.

Answer 22

But times move in a certain direction ?

Answer 23

time*

Answer 24

CURRENT ALSO MOVES , why dont you compare with that ?

Answer 25

But,Vector is defined as something which has a certain direction and magnitude.

Answer 26

AND FOLLOWS VECTOR LAWS OF ADDITION..that is very important!

->current is not a vector since it does not follow that addition law<-

Answer 27

So a vector should follow the laws of addition ?

Answer 28

Otherwise,It is not a vector.

Answer 29

Yes,,

Answer 30

Ok thanks :)

How is spacetime a vector quantity then ?

Answer 31

Is it ?

Answer 32

Becuase you think of it as dimension... how ever it is wrong... space time is not a vector quantity either.

Answer 33

Okay thanks a lot @Frostbite @shubhamsrg