10 mysteries about time (I)

Time is a simple concept, like dates, hours and seconds. However, to understand the nature of time and its implications for space or other theories is quite complex.

1. The phenomenon of time expansion

Time seems to be an absolute and forward quantity, but in reality it is greatly influenced by two factors: speed and gravity. The most obvious proof is that the phenomenon of time is stretched when there is a great gravitational force, such as near a cosmic black hole. The bigger the gravitational force, the slower the time.

GPS satellites fly on Earth's orbit equipped with extremely accurate atomic clocks. However, because gravity is weaker than the ground, these satellites will spend less time on Earth, about 7 microseconds per second on Earth. Therefore, atomic clocks always have to adjust to compensate this time if GPS positioning problems do not occur.

This phenomenon is called the time expansion by scientists. Speed ​​is also a factor that can cause time expansion, even causing absolute time stretch if we can reach the speed of light. At that time time may stop.

2. Think about time

In the book The Principles of Psychology , author William James has found that people have no way to focus entirely on the present. There are always obsessions in our thoughts about the past and the future, regardless of whether we try to concentrate, meditate or eliminate those thoughts.

Our minds always regret what we have done in the past, as well as expecting a future that may never come. But there is still a way for us to eliminate those thoughts, according to William James, which is meditation.

Meditation has been shown to slow our perception of time, reduce anxiety and depression. So if you're having trouble thinking about the past or the future, try to meditate to regain balance.

3. Leap year

Leap year is a familiar concept, but many people may not understand it. The leap year occurs every 4 years, when we have one more day in February. Because the fact of one year of offering is not 365 even days, but about 365,242 days.

So if we don't calculate the leap year, we lose about 6 hours each year. This will lead to inaccuracies of the modern calendar we use.

It is worth mentioning here that many places do not accept December 29 as a day of the year. Hospitalized patients on this day are not documented, you cannot open a bank account on this day because computer systems do not recognize the leap year.

4. One minute in New York

One minute was defined in New York as the time when the traffic light changed from red to green and the car behind it honked loudly. That means that a minute in New York is so fast that we can't keep up.

This concept is called 'time perception' , when we feel time passes without counting by the clock. At that time, we will feel the passage of time completely different in different locations. Of course that is just the feeling of each person, not reality.

Awareness of time in big cities is much faster than in remote rural areas, as their eyes continually update new images and events. Many people assume that one minute in New York City is equal to 5 minutes elsewhere.

5. Music and time

Surely one of us also feels like time is stopped when immersed in a good music. It is a psychological phenomenon that has been explained by science, in which music can completely control our time perception, like the concept mentioned above.

Classical music pieces do not have a fixed rhythm speed. No one knows if Mozart composed the Piano Concerto No. 24 with a fast or slow rhythm. Classical music allows performers to express the music according to the rhythm they feel, be it very slow (largo), larghetto or fast and vibrant rhythm (Allegretto).

It is this factor that makes music able to control our perception of the world. When you hear a familiar melody with slow tempo, you will feel like time is slowing down and vice versa with a fast-paced and vibrant song.

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