What is Spacelike Timelike?

If is positive, the spacetime interval is timelike, meaning that two events are separated by more time than space. If. is negative, the spacetime interval is spacelike, meaning that two events are separated by more space than time.

Is spacetime a vector?

It is assumed below that spacetime is endowed with a coordinate system corresponding to an inertial frame. This provides an origin, which is necessary in order to be able to refer to spacetime as being modeled as a vector space.

What is meant by velocity four-vector?

In physics, in particular in special relativity and general relativity, a four-velocity is a four-vector in four-dimensional spacetime that represents the relativistic counterpart of velocity, which is a three-dimensional vector in space. The history of an object traces a curve in spacetime, called its world line.

What is the magnitude of time like vector?

If we think about time as a one-dimensional vector, that means that the magnitude of this vector is the same as its only component. The magnitude of a vector, however, we know is a scalar. Therefore, the magnitude of a “time vector” being its only component, would mean that time has to be a scalar.

How are timelike and spacelike vectors related?

If a vector is time-like then it will lie inside of this cone and if a vector is space-like it will lie outside of this cone; the vectors lying on the cone are as stated the tangent vectors to the light rays and these are null vectors. This framework codifies the (local) causal structure of space-time.

How does a timelike vector connect two events?

A timelike vector connects two events that are causally connected, that is the second event is in the light cone of the first event.

When is a tangent vector is timelike or null?

chronological (or timelike) if the tangent vector is timelike at all points in the curve. null if the tangent vector is null at all points in the curve. spacelike if the tangent vector is spacelike at all points in the curve. causal (or non-spacelike) if the tangent vector is timelike or null at all points in the curve.

How are null vectors and timelike vectors decomposed?

Once a direction of time is chosen, timelike and null vectors can be further decomposed into various classes. For timelike vectors one has past-directed timelike vectors whose first component is negative (absolute past). past-directed null vectors whose first component is negative (lower light cone).