In the movie "Interstellar," the portrayal of time relativity is a central theme. While explaining it fully requires a deeper understanding of physics, I can attempt to provide a simplified explanation in layman's terms.
In "Interstellar," the story involves space travel and a phenomenon known as time dilation. Time dilation is a real concept based on Einstein's theory of relativity, which states that time can pass differently for objects in motion or in the presence of strong gravitational fields.
In the movie, the characters travel to a distant planet near a supermassive black hole. This black hole's intense gravity causes a significant time dilation effect. What this means is that time near the black hole passes more slowly compared to time in a different location far away from the black hole.
As the characters descend closer to the black hole's gravitational pull, they experience time passing much more slowly compared to people who remained far away from the black hole. For example, spending a short time near the black hole could translate into years or even decades passing for those who stayed further away.
This time dilation effect creates a significant difference in the aging and experiences of the characters. They can travel to a distant planet, spend a short period there, and return to find that many years have passed on Earth. This concept allows for dramatic consequences and emotional impact within the movie's storyline.
While "Interstellar" takes some artistic liberties and exaggerates certain aspects for the sake of storytelling, the underlying idea of time dilation near a black hole is rooted in scientific theories. It showcases how extreme gravitational forces can influence the passage of time, leading to dramatic effects when observed from different locations.