Einstein’s theory of relativity revolutionized the understanding of time, challenging the classical physics view of time as absolute and universal. Special relativity demonstrates that time is relative to the observer’s motion. Time dilation occurs when an observer perceives a moving clock as ticking slower than a stationary clock. This effect becomes significant at speeds approaching the speed of light.
General relativity further complicates the nature of time by introducing gravity. According to general relativity, gravity arises from the curvature of space-time. The presence of a massive body curves space-time, causing time to dilate (slow down) in a gravitational field. This means that clocks run slower in stronger gravitational fields.
Einstein’s theories redefine time as a dimension intertwined with space, forming a four-dimensional space-time continuum. This concept has far-reaching implications for understanding the universe, from the behavior of elementary particles to the dynamics of cosmic structures.