Newton expressed the idea that time and space are absolute, they are independent dimensions upon which we live and move. This gave birth to the idea that velocity was an interaction between these two dimensions, and as such, was also an absolute, linear representation of the interaction. We can think of a point in space, say the center of your thumbnail, which has an imaginary string that is passing through this point at a given fixed rate (with respect to a singularity that is timeless and spaceless). The string is time, moving constantly (or staying still and your thumb moving through it, if you like). You may move your thumb in any direction, and time will still pass at the same rate.
Velocity, then is simply a change in x, y, or z, taking into account how much of the “time-string” has passed through your point or object.
Simple enough, right? Sure, to Newton.
Einstein, however, put a spin (twist?) on our rigid definition. Light, it seems, has an absolute velocity, c (3×10^8 m/s), with no regard for one’s frame of reference (inertial frame of reference). Now, Einstein accommodated for this by presenting us with special and general relativity, but we will not touch on these yet except to say that space and time behave very differently at different velocities.
In light of Einstein’s work, we can postulate that velocity is a fundamental dimension, and that time and space are [perhaps better called] dependent dimensions. Obviously we are looking at things in our world [differently than we could]; We view velocity as some event in which time and space change [with respect to each other] in some linear way. It seems however, that time and space change in some way that depends on velocity.
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