The Nature of Time
Time is a fundamental concept, describing the sequence of events from the past through the present to the future. It is a dimension in which events can be ordered, and the duration of events and the intervals between them can be measured.
Introduction & History
Ancient civilizations tracked time using celestial bodies, leading to the creation of calendars and sundials. The invention of mechanical clocks in the 14th century revolutionized timekeeping, and the development of atomic clocks in the 20th century provided an incredibly precise standard.
Key Units
Second (s)
The base unit of time in the SI system.
Minute (min)
Equal to 60 seconds.
Hour (h)
Equal to 60 minutes.
Day (d)
The time it takes for the Earth to complete one rotation, approximately 24 hours.
Year (a)
The time it takes for the Earth to orbit the Sun, approximately 365.25 days.
Practical Applications
Physics and Astronomy
Scheduling and Planning
Navigation Systems (GPS)
Financial Markets
Music and Film