The Arrow of Time

Imagine a movie of someone jumping into a pool. Play it forward: they splash in. Play it backward: they fly out and land on the diving board! In real life, we only see the forward version. This one-way direction is the Arrow of Time. Even though some math says time could go both ways, the universe has a strict rule that we only move toward the future. It is a one-way street we are all walking down together.

You cannot un-burn the toast. You cannot un-break the glass. The arrow flies forward. And that is not a curse. It is how the story gets told.

The Arrow of Time: time has a preferred direction not inherent in fundamental laws (mostly T-symmetric). The Thermodynamic Arrow is based on entropy increase. Other arrows: Cosmological (universe expansion), Radiative (waves spread outward), Causal. The Past Hypothesis: the universe began in an exceptionally low-entropy state, setting the arrow in motion at the Big Bang.

SOUND: A glass breaking and never un-breaking.

SMELL: Toast: you cannot turn it back into bread.

TASTE: A mixed smoothie: you cannot un-mix the fruit.

TOUCH: Heat leaving a warm cup of cocoa.

SIGHT: Smoke rising from a blown-out candle.

BODY: The feeling of moving forward as you walk: your body on the one-way street.

Music: Always on My Mind by Willie Nelson

Part of Time & Change — PHILOSOPHY — Education Revelation