The fundamentals of space-time: Part 1 - Andrew Pontzen and Tom Whyntie

View full lesson: ed.ted.com/less...
Space is where things happen. Time is when things happen. And sometimes, in order to really look at the universe, you need to take those two concepts and mash them together. In this first lesson of a three-part series on space-time, hilarious hosts Andrew Pontzen and Tom Whyntie go through the basics of space and time individually, and use a flip book to illustrate how we can begin to look at them together.
Lesson by Andrew Pontzen and Tom Whyntie, animation by Giant Animation Studios.

[@Meow_yj]

It reminds me of Albert Einstein's quote : "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." It's so amazing!

[@SherlockFootball828]

Yeah , it will remind me

[@spuckhafte]

That's Bohr

[@Pedro-ds3cq]

Or maybe you think it's simple because you are Einstein but other people still find very complex

[@maroofshah4645]

That's Feynmen's qoutation

[@show_me_your_kitties]

Aww I've never heard that quote before but it's brilliant!

[@economicsmafia]

As a person who hated physics in high school, thanks for making me feel intrigued by physics again. I'm actually clicking the part 2 video. Awesome. This shows how well-crafted animation videos can make abstract ideas concrete to layman like me.

[@setedisangue9382]

I find that those with the intelligence to first know the word 'layman' and secondly to then apply it to themselves are rarely ever a layman. Socratic wisdom and all that jazz.

[@tanushka7779]

Fundamental Sciences are Loved!

[@Th3Shrike]

me: trying my hardest to understand what the heck is going on my brain: why the heck do they only have four fingers per hand

[@daidai1048]

Kun Feng 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@blauwbeer556]

lol

[@anawesomepet]

Don’t judge them, you only have 4 fingers per hand. The other one is a thumb.

[@daviddulom8258]

So m not alone lol

[@vijaynyaya6603]

Either this animation has explained the concept brilliantly or its just making it too simple to be accurate.

[@MrHandsomeStudios]

Totally agree

[@amoghskulkarni]

Too simple to be inaccurate* you mean

[@FranziskavonKarma]

@@amoghskulkarni No, too simple to be accurate

[@notty1772]

Lol I didn't get it

[@ishworshrestha3559]

Ok

[@emanalmutawa8564]

i love how enthusiastic the person talking is! :D

[@MrHandsomeStudios]

This is absolutely the best explanation for the space time diagram.

[@TheJabberwock]

These fellas are ADORABLE!

[@lizkaufman1389]

It's probably the only video on KZbin that has defined spacetime in the best possible way.

[@Leto85]

Wow TED-Ed, you really makes it all sound so simple. I really love this animation.

[@uday1663]

Just listen to me, I'm not kidding. Last night I was wondering about space-time while sleeping and the next day i got this video on my recommendation. I have never searched anything related to space time ever in youtube or in Google.

[@SuperBhavanishankar]

you actually moved to future in your dream (4th dimension) and played this video unknowingly. sleep again to come back :P

[@sandeepsambre]

Flipbook is best way to explain space time. Couldn't find any better video explaining space time like Andrew and Tom did

[@ALeaud]

I'm 18 months old and I understand this.

[@LittleMew133]

Alex Leaud you can write, good job. I could write at 3 months old.

[@Aj-xf5nu]

I could study about space and time when i was 5 years old

[@Thawtoy]

Aj Styles Pathetic. i was born with it coz my mom watched this ted clip!

[@1007yes]

Please, a real overachiever understands this as an embryo.

[@simranss2971]

I'm just in stomach

[@marsbar77]

This has got me thinking about both space time, and how/why they went for 2D/3D animation at the same time

[@nostalgia63]

Excelente vídeo. Philochrony is the theory that describes the nature of time and demonstrates its existence. Time is magnitive: objective, Imperceptible (intervals) and measurable (duration).

[@yetokaswu7566]

What a brilliant illustration.. Relativity isn't so intuitive and you and its not always easy see the picture in the equations. Great job!!

[@aadikochhar4028]

Schools: No! Youu can't learn physics and animation together Ted ed: Hold my cup😜

[@pseudonymm1407]

That was the best relativity explanation I've ever seen.

[@theresab1348]

wtf am i doing here. i got a test tommorrow and now im just watching sone guys talking about spacetime

[@eBiniyog]

How was your test?

[@anawesomepet]

Have you finished the test after 4 years?

[@dannina1280]

Are you INTP?

[@juicestains52]

Once I finally was able to realize that time only applies to objects within space and not space itself the relationship between the two became much more clearer for me.

[@tracesprite6078]

For us humans, we experience space differently to time. We can move backwards and forwards and sideways in space but we can only move forwards in time. Also we can move through space faster (in less time) but it seems that time decides for us how fast we move through it.

[@CitpeksAmi]

Actually, our movement through space decides how fast time moves relative to everyone else and our brains interpret the rate at which we experience time. For instance, animals can experience time differently than humans. But you are right that the direction we move through time doesn't seem to be up to us. Probably because of entropy.

[@tracesprite6078]

@@CitpeksAmi I don't really feel like I understand it. It's strange to be so familiar with space and time and yet not really be able to grasp it all.

[@Amy-fd9xp]

That moment when you're a seagull and you become a cosmic ray. Mood

[@fernchilling]

i feel like Einstien

[@robertkuhn90]

This is so ironic :-)

[@kyrlics6515]

@@robertkuhn90 lmao

[@gloriawang5608]

@@robertkuhn90 why lol

[@blauwbeer556]

@@gloriawang5608 tbh i am not dure myself but i think it has to do that einstein created these theories.

[@gloriawang5608]

@@blauwbeer556 oh okay well then that's just a misuse of the word "ironic"

[@nicknice7839]

This should be shown in every school and institute

[@yashvikudrigikar8943]

Can we take a moment to appreciate the animation and the narrator ?

[@TheBilalien]

Excellent video, beautifully animated. Physics teaches us what we should know but always forget, 'it's always good to see things from different perspectives.' I think that goes for all the negative commenters who say this is 'too simple'. Too bad not everyone can be as worldly or as intelligent as you all. Pff

[@niy._.]

Bilal Ahmadi I

[@mohammedsalmanali01]

If you can explain it simply, it's an indication that you understand it

[@ドラゴンナイトジェシー]

めっちゃわかりやすいです！

[@thinkingslow173]

Please please please make a series with them

[@meenakshigupta5731]

I loved this explanation but sometimes when I don't get it properly I just re-watch it again and again......Thanks TED Ed for brilliant content.....😌

[@Muffaddal1]

Very nice, has taken me just one step further to understanding brief history of time, going to read it again. By far, better than rest of the videos on space-time.

[@shidahnoh1857]

as an animator who loves learning about space this makes me happy lmao

[@bensison4430]

Maybe one of the few ted ed vids i finished not having to gasp for more air.

[@Mtmonaghan]

It is crucial that you understand the difference between the Newtonian world view that the axis’s of your graph remain unaffected by motion. You simply rotate the graph within them to get the relative perspective you require. But the speed of light is “special “ you can not rotate its world line when trying to view from the perspective of a moving observer. So the only way you can get the moving observers world line vertical without affecting the world line of light is to consider the graph paper as a rubber sheet, call the sheet the space time continuum, a single thing, and stretch and squeeze it in a manner that results in the observers world line being vertical, but the world line of light remaining unaffected. The result will distort the time and space axis, which Newton said did not happen anywhere in space at any time. If you read off the position of a point that has suffered distortion on the undistorted axis, it will show a smaller reading than its original position before distortion had taken place. Time moves slower for a moving observers and distance shrinks it the direction of motion, but they would both agree on the speed of light.

[@swornout5790]

When you try to explain space and time to others but they just assume I'm talking about clocks lol

[@anialator1000000]

probably one of the best explanation of space-time iv ever seen

[@DamianAzriel]

Elegantly put. Well done.

[@alxzr]

People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but *actually* from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint - it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly... time-y wimey... stuff.

[@PancorRath]

only if you have a TARDIS or a really nice bow-tie because bow-ties are (what?) cool

[@czechmate30]

PancorRath If you were a true whovian, you would know that it was David Tennant that said that.

[@PancorRath]

czechmate30 David Tennant? pretty sure it was Matt Smith who said and etch in stone how cool bow-ties are... along with fez, fish sticks and custard and being possibly the dorkiest of Doctors

[@agustinredin]

Sounds like something Rick would say...

[@LeonyRhaw]

Nice video :D I'm still sure that time is a big ball of wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff but well now I know some of the details.

[@shirurirun]

:D

[@dnyaadyb8795]

I watched tons of vids and this one was the only one that I understood thank you very much

[@KaalaantargatA]

Amazing Thanks

[@musicvideosish]

Cant wait till the next animation!

[@hal5530]

Absolutely mind blowing

[@SaeedAbdulRaheem]

Far better and understandable explanation than pbs space time channel

[@dchoi99]

I wonder if they are going to come to the conclusion that time progression is actually an illusion and that all time (past, present and future) exists simultaneously as does all possibilities. Good video. I like the idea of baby steps in explaining complex topics.

[@dorax1876]

Imagine you all are in the Space time flip book !

[@twohornedpuppet85]

Finally an educational video of spacetime I can keep up with.

[@ejl8412]

My smart friend: space-time Me: is that like face-time?

[@ZomeaterWWZ]

Better explanation than a textbook. Thank you TED

[@teresalacroix7221]

this makes it so clear

[@AnkitKumar4u]

Instead of complicating things, you can simply say just like length, breath and height, time is also a dimension. That gives us our 4 - D. And that's true we move through time as well just like we move through length, breath and height. Although there is an exception too, we haven't yet figured out a way to move back in time

[@joemendyk9994]

Time is not spacial......

[@cristig243]

The Sagnac effect proves that 1 observer travelling towards the light in a curved line path measures the speed of light as c + v . The key is that the radius of the curvature can take any value in the formula. I chose R tends to infinity and I find c - v and c + v in a straight line.

[@joemendyk9994]

That was a nice bit of mumbo jumbo......

[@advaittalekar7310]

Sweet this is by far the best explanation for the worldline ❤️❤️

[@FrozenWeasel34]

The next animation needs to be today!

[@abbaseslami1061]

Simple but very useful this time I got it thank you very match please some more

[@sophiasandashley706]

im 13 and i watched this video voluntarily without any knowledge and i get this

[@naoualasarraj8968]

i have literally know idea what they aretalking about

[@ДенисРадченко-э1ч]

At the heart of the concept of the essence of time, we assume that TIME IS THAT THAT, WITH THE HELP OF THE PRESENT, SEPARATES THE PAST FROM THE FUTURE. exclude the impact of time on our world. At first glance, it seems that in this case there will be some semblance of photography - everything will freeze in static immobility. But, the assumption was made that the essence of time is in the separation of the past from the future, and that means the exclusion of time will lead to the disappearance of the border between the past and the future, which means they will exist simultaneously. In this case, the material point loses its dimensions, since it exists both where it once was and where it will still be. Ideally, the size of a material point reaches the size of the entire existing space. This explains one of the most important essences of time - it limits the size of material bodies. It means that time forms space. More in Russian in samlib.ru/editors/s/sereda_wladimir_afanasxewich/sushnostxwremeni.shtml

[@Harpreet_62]

Love your videos 😊 thanks for making them

[@meghjoshi]

Space and time are relative, the more time I spend with my relatives the more space I need

[@l.j.2917]

Ok, where is the next animation? The interest is peaked!!

[@Pineapple-Lord]

cant wait for part two!!!

[@AndreasHaardt]

Great! Very well done. Where's part II?

[@sanjaybajpay8783]

Pls make a second part

[@naveengwalia4007]

i really did not notice time passing.good work

[@luisamendes8181]

Inaccuracies may be everywhere - but It’s not because the explanation is simple. E=mc2 is very simple isn’t? It takes a hard work to be simple.

[@stanmarshthedarsh]

I want so hard to understand! I need to understand! But even when broken down like this into bite-sized chunks, my brain struggles. But alas! I will persevere!

[@JJs_playground]

I thought I had a decent understanding of space-time via Einstein's special theory of relativity. So I was surprised that I really didn't understand this video. Is it just me?

[@hybmnzz2658]

This is classical physics. The next part is special relativity and Einstein.

[@rockmeyer6988]

How does gravity warp space time? And what does warping space time even mean? Does that mean gravity slows down time or speeds up time?

[@peaceforworld3427]

Got the answer? Kindly share it with me. Even i wanna know the same. Please.

[@joemendyk9994]

It doesn't really as far as we know. That is someone's theory to explain certain phenomenon.

[@mattvjmeasures]

Great video, thanks TED

[@fundacionsinfonicavirgenpe8023]

Today, Prof. AngelO´ Contreras, proposed that Dr. Albert Einstein was wrong to define our dimension as “space-time”, considering that time is only a rational perception, ruling out that it is a form of energy. Under this analysis, he argued that matter is the energy of matter and force its fundamental fuel. In this order of ideas, the dimension of matter is the “force space”. However, he argued that time could be rational patronymic energy, but rules out that it exerts force on matter, thus ruling out that it can be considered as a dimension of our physical nature.

[@maxim2431]

Time does not break, time ceases to exist at all being transformed to the next dimension. Time is just an energy and all energies are transformable.

[@aman26452]

Time is energy? Really?

[@maxim2431]

@@aman26452 Really. Everything is energy. Time belongs to the dark matter. The dark matter consists of energies. If you manage to transform the physical vacuum called the dark matter you can transform any energy. Will show the demo video soon about the device generating a new renewable multiplying the input power of electrical current by several times at the output. And we are planning several more videos about transformations this year. All of them are lab videos promoting devices in work.

[@emeproducti0ns]

As a visual/kinaesthetic learner, I learn more through watching KZbin and cross-checking info in a Library than I did over 5 years and $50g worth of university 😓

[@aleksanderamid5842]

This video is Genius

[@Irispia97]

Time in space is different in space because it’s a fourth dimension as it’s not relative to mass it’s it’s own entity. Mass & gravity bends space, so because the mass is moving it’s moving fast it’s moving slower through time.

[@joemendyk9994]

Your accepting way to much as fact...

[@lakshmanankomathmanalath]

great. thank you.

[@ebird97]

Wow phenomenal for teaching!

[@buecima]

can I ask a question? Imagine we have two ray of light coming from opposite direction and meeting at a specific point, they have opposite phase so when they reach the point they cancel one each other. Now what happen with the energy of the two ray? get transformed in the dark energy?

[@newolderalso2]

gr8 stuff!1 thx. any links to parts 2 and beyond, plz?

[@tonyreyes8190]

Wow pbs did. Videos about these lines and I didn't get it but that was explained so well...bravo. And thankyou

[@dhruvshukla5591]

A very good explanation. I love TED ed.

[@ashk77]

Just loved it........super simple explanation...thanks :)

[@swbirder]

Good stuff. Never stop learning,

[@justingeorge6093]

Mind blown I actual I learned something

[@SindongSamsaraSamsalibab]

Really nice! Thanks alot!

[@sugarcakezz]

I haven’t slept for a while and figured all this out and tried to explain to ppl and they think I’m crazy

[@mice1m1]

In Australia we measure spacetime as "kilometres per hour". my car strangely enough has a meter just for this purpose.

[@joemendyk9994]

Illustrated as motion.....

[@martymaxtv]

it's like The 11th and the 12th dr. giving me a good explanation :D

[@arnavnath94]

Superb superb man . How could I thank u for making this video , very well explained. Greetings

[@scottyo2490]

Wow. You can create a flip book that does this too I bet. Flip through with pages straight, then arrange them diagonally and flip through for a different perspective. Right?

[@Luckysayshello]

IS there any video or documentary that explains the "fourth dimensions" (even higher).. "wormholes" and "portals" and time travel and physics? Something that can be easily grasped?

[@chelseafootballc]

I know a few , are you still looking for some ?

[@samshaikh4799]

Space - Where things happen? Time - When things happen? Me - Why things wanna happen?

[@demesnebrooks6275]

This is brilliant

[@kens2328]

I kinda get it, but why do clocks move slower (when observed by an onlooker) as one approaches the speed of light? What happens if there isn’t an onlooker? Does the clock still slow down? I always heard that if a person left the earth and traveled close to the speed of light, upon returning to earth they would be younger than, say, their twin who stayed on the earth...they will have aged slower. What does having an onlooker have to do with that? Does someone have to be watching the spaceship in order for that to happen?

[@joemendyk9994]

Nothing slows down at the speed of light. Only our perception changes. Everything is still happening normally.

[@Cybeonix]

Nicely done!

[@joryvans]

Wonderful!

[@scottyo2490]

My eyes: watching My brain: what's for dinner?

[@sowmiyavasudevan3395]

Woah! this is so simple yet so informative! thanks, Ted-ed!

[@pantopia3518]

R u doing this on head squeeze also, I loved the vid about time travel

[@adityabagdi1178]

My brain got lost somewhere in space time

[@chanamethsangmookda969]

On a scale of 1 to 10 how much of the video did you understand Me: yes

[@Dyslexic-Artist-Theory-on-Time]

This is an invitation to see a theory on the nature of time! In this theory we have an emergent uncertain future continuously coming into existence relative to the spontaneous absorption and emission of photon energy. The future is unfolding with each photon electron coupling or dipole moment relative to the atoms of the periodic table and the wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum. This is part of a universal process of energy exchange that forms the ever changing world of our everyday life.

[@joesands3350]

why is a stopwatch a better clock than a sandclock? If a 1 mile high skyscraper has 2 clocks at the bottom and 2 clocks at the top, (one of each type) after a day the sand clock at the top of the tower has barely moved whereas the stopwatch has moved faster than their respective ones at the bottom. YET one FULL day has passed for BOTH clocks. Perhaps, we are using the wrong reference clocks? It is obvious that a sandclock is a gravitational clock BUT whose to say that an atomic clock isnt affected by gravity but in the opposite direction? A relatively reliable clock is the earths rotation around the sun. We know that is fixed.