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Question
How is time a function of the fabric of nature, and not perception only?
Asked by: Dude
Answer
The second law of thermodynamics makes time a player in the 'fabric' of nature. It says
that a closed system's entropy (disorder) will increase over time.
For a simple example, think about breaking a rack of billiard balls. The initial ordered
arrangement becomes a random mix of balls. A video of the event run in reverse would be
instantly recognizable, since a random distribution of balls will not spontaneously become
orderly.
Other everyday examples, like a drop of ink spreading through a glass of water,
the breaking of an egg, etc. clearly show an arrow of time moving in a specific direction
independent of human perception.
Answered by: Paul Walorski, B.A. Physics, Part-time Physics Instructor
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