In Shakespeare's famous line "Time is the best doctor", we can feel the impact of the passage of time on life. And when it comes to the origin, structure and destiny of the universe, time and space are indispensable elements. Stephen Hawking's book "A Brief History of Time" not only unlocks the mysteries of the universe for ordinary readers, but also leads us into a new realm of thinking.
Hawking pointed out in the book that the interaction of the basic structure of the universe with time and space is the key to understanding the origin of the universe.
Hawking’s views on the universe
In his classic book "A Brief History of Time," Hawking first elaborated on the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle's views on the universe. Aristotle believed that the universe was stationary, and then in the 16th century, Nicolaus Copernicus proposed the heliocentric theory, which challenged long-held beliefs. Through this historical review, Hawking helps readers understand how our understanding of the universe has evolved over time.
Hawking emphasized that understanding the nature of space and time helps us understand the origin of the universe and its future destiny.
The nature of time
Hawking introduces readers to different theories of time. From Newton's absolute time to Einstein's theory of relativity, the concept of time has undergone a fundamental transformation in physics. Hawking pointed out that the theory of relativity shows that time and space are closely connected, especially in strong gravitational fields, which will operate in a way different from daily experience.
. For example, Einstein's general theory of relativity tells us that gravity is not a transmitting force but a curvature of space-time.
The wonderful structure of space
In Hawking's description, the structure of space is not only three-dimensional, but also involves the dimension of time. He mentioned the concept of "light cones," a model that helps us understand how information travels through space and time and its limits. Hawking explained how gravity affects the path of light, which is all part of the theory of relativity.
As the basic building blocks of the universe, time and space are deeply intertwined with each other, and the movement of any object will affect its experience of time to some extent. This also leads to the legendary "twin paradox". In this paradox, twins who move at different speeds will have age differences. This not only challenges our intuitive understanding of the passage of time, but also makes us more profound. Understand the relativity of time.
The expansion and future of the universe
Hawking further discussed the expansion of the universe. Our understanding of the universe has changed dramatically since Edwin Hubble discovered that it is expanding. Hawking mentioned that this discovery not only provides support for the Big Bang theory, but also changes our view of the future of the universe, which may experience continued expansion or eventual collapse under different circumstances.
Hawking reminds us that using modern technology, scientists are still exploring the fate of the universe.
The singularity of black holes
When it comes to black holes, Hawking explores why these mysterious objects are unable to escape. He mentioned that according to the general theory of relativity, when a star exhausts its nuclear fuel, it may collapse into a point with infinite density and infinite curvature of space and time, that is, a black hole. This theory breaks through our understanding of matter and time.
Hawking's research went further. He proposed that black holes are not completely closed and may also emit radiation. This theory is called Hawking radiation. This once again challenged people's traditional ideas about black holes and also triggered discussions on quantum gravity theory.
Conclusion
In general, Hawking shows us the key roles of time and space in the evolution of the universe in "A Brief History of Time", which not only allows non-professional readers to feel the charm of science, but also inspires readers to think about the profound nature of the universe. . Will we be able to discover more mysteries about time and space in future explorations?