: Yes, that helps a lot. I understand it now. Thanks a bundle.

: give me complete informations, because it's very inportant for me. -Paul

: : First, one has to visualize the dimension of time : : and space as an entity beyond nothingness. It : : is true that space is nothing, and besides itself : : holds nothing. However, a way to visualize time : : and space is to observe how the effects of gravity : : and velocity reveal its very nature. What a better : : way to observe "nothingness" than to observe two, : : if you will, "recipricols" of time/space.

: : Lets start with gravity. The phenomenon of gravity : : is quit amazing in fact. The force that a mass has : : among another mass is that of attraction to eachother. : : One can visualize this in a two dimensional field by : : assuming a rubber sheet suspended in air being held : : at the four corners of the mat. place a heavy ball : : or object in the center and notice the distortion : : the "mass" has on the mat. (space time) If you were : : to place a smaller mass near this depression it would : : "pull" towards the center of the mass. the key thing : : here is 'center' of the mass. gravity always has : : its point of origin from the center. One can see : : how this relates to, and is reality in our dimension : : of time and space. The effect is there.

: : Now, where does time and velocity come in here? : : Well, imagine a grid of lines inscribed on that rubber : : mat. If there is a mass present those lines that : : form a grid are now quite distorted. (depending on : : the amount of gravitation...) Now the concept of time : : comes in... Imagine time moving at the speed of light : : traveling on those lines on the mat. Without the : : presence of gravity the lines seem straight. In the : : presence of gravity the lines seem distorted, right? : : well in fact they are, but it depends on what frame : : of reference you are observing. Imagine you are an : : observer from the "straight" line area observing the : : "curved" space/time far away. well, when light (which : : remains at a constant velocity (c)) is traveling along : : the "curved" portion of time/space it appears to takes longer : : for it to travel the same "apparent" distance from : : your perspective. Now on the same note, say you were : : observing light travel on the "straight" portion : : of space/time, from the "curved" portion of time/space. : : Well, the "apparent" time it takes for the light : : to travel on the straight path seems to go faster; : : thus time dilation in both instances.

: : Now, time dilation is not limited to gravitational : : forces... it also is related and affected by velocity.. : : If you could approach the speed of light, time and space : : would become more and more curved; until eventually : : space and time would be infinitely curved. this, : : however, would only be possible if one could achieve : : the velocity of light. thus the effects of time : : dilation are apparent in velocity factors as well.

: : there are other factors that happen in both gravitional : : and velocity time dilation as well. Like length : : contraction, mass increase, ect. However, these are : : all apparent increases. They are only observable : : from someone observing from a stationary reference. : : It is interesting to note that given that these : : effects (mass increase) are apparent to the stationary observer, : : how these "affect" the traveler are quite apparent. : : Thus the reason it is impossible to reach the speed : : of light, due to theoritical mass increase. Even : : though if you were to observe your own space craft : : traveling this speed you would notice no mass increase : : or length contraction, just you would notice the ever : : increasing need of energy to accelerate at an exponential : : rate.

: : Note: You would observe, looking at the outside : : universe, time and space "becoming" infinitely curved, : : till eventually (if you could travel (c)) time : : would stop, this dimension would be gone... But your : : apparent mass would be infinite and your apparent : : volume... zero. :)

: : : : I hope this will clarify or illustrate for you. : : I choose visual exzamples because this is the way : : I think and visualize much of physics.

: : take care...