The Doppler Effect in Time

[Rhondazvous]

In space, the Doppler Effect lengthens the wave length of things moving away from us and shortens the wave length of things moving toward us.

But it seems to have the opposite effect on time, or at least our perception of time if there is such a thing as time outside what we perceive. When events move away from us (slipping into the past), the time seems to have gone quickly. How many times have we said “I can’t believe it’s been ten years. Seems like it was only yesterday.” But when events move toward us (future), they seem to be far off. “Do you mean I have to wait ten days to get paid?”

[Alexmahone]

The Doppler effect holds for waves. An event in the past or future is not a wave.

[Rhondazvous]

Not talking about the events themselves but our perception of them in timespace. The past is time moving away, but instead of stretching as space does, time shrinks. Using the ant/rubberband model, space can be seen as a wave that stretches/red shifts as it moves away. Time is not separate from space. so it, too, is a wave.

[Angrboda]

Perception is not a constant, but since perception isn't an accurate reflection of the reality of time, this fact is of no consequence.

[Anomalocaris]

In space, the Doppler Effect lengthens the wave length of things moving away from us and shortens the wave length of things moving toward us.

But it seems to have the opposite effect on time, or at least our perception of time if there is such a thing as time outside what we perceive. When events move away from us (slipping into the past), the time seems to have gone quickly.  How many times have we said “I can’t believe it’s been ten years. Seems like it was only yesterday.” But when events move toward us (future), they seem to be far off. “Do you mean I have to wait ten days to get paid?”

I bet in school, and exams that are moving towards the observer arrives far sooner than almost everyone might think based on the supposition that future approaches at the same rate as the past departs.

The same would be true of other unpleasant things bearing inexorably down upon you from the future. Lay offs, bills due, ex-spouse coming to pick up the child, etc.

[bennyboy]

In space, the Doppler Effect lengthens the wave length of things moving away from us and shortens the wave length of things moving toward us.

But it seems to have the opposite effect on time, or at least our perception of time if there is such a thing as time outside what we perceive. When events move away from us (slipping into the past), the time seems to have gone quickly.  How many times have we said “I can’t believe it’s been ten years. Seems like it was only yesterday.” But when events move toward us (future), they seem to be far off. “Do you mean I have to wait ten days to get paid?”

Death appears all too near on the horizon, as does the day when my boy will leave my house to start his adventures while I wind down on mine.

I think it depends on the emotional value that different events have.  I would imagine a prisoner doesn't feel like the ten years he's served went by in the blink of an eye.

[Aroura]

In space, the Doppler Effect lengthens the wave length of things moving away from us and shortens the wave length of things moving toward us.

But it seems to have the opposite effect on time, or at least our perception of time if there is such a thing as time outside what we perceive. When events move away from us (slipping into the past), the time seems to have gone quickly.  How many times have we said “I can’t believe it’s been ten years. Seems like it was only yesterday.” But when events move toward us (future), they seem to be far off. “Do you mean I have to wait ten days to get paid?”

Death appears all too near on the horizon, as does the day when my boy will leave my house to start his adventures while I wind down on mine.

I think it depends on the emotional value that different events have.  I would imagine a prisoner doesn't feel like the ten years he's served went by in the blink of an eye.

This is what I was thinking, too.

It isn't constant that the past feels like only yesterday, and the future seems to stretch on forever.  It varies massively.

constantly.

[brewer]

Wait till the dementia kicks in.

[Minimalist]

Perception depends on people.... and that can really fuck up the process.

[Rhondazvous]

Perception is not a constant, but since perception isn't an accurate reflection of the reality of time, this fact is of no consequence.

Perception comes into play in both time and space. The stars moving away from us don't actually turn red, so red shifting is not an objective reality. Something about the star moving away from us makes us perceive red.

n objective reality, a car moving away from me makes exactly the same sound as a car moving toward me, but because of the Doppler Effect, I perceive it differently.

The same is true of time. Ten years is ten years. whether coming or going, but time seen through the lens of memory is perceived differently than time seen through the lens of anticipation. It's all relative.