According to our current understanding of physics, time is a fundamental component of our universe, and it is generally treated as a dimension that, like space, can be experienced and measured. In many everyday situations, time appears to flow at a constant rate, and we can use clocks to measure its passage.
However, in the realm of physics, particularly in the theory of relativity, our understanding of time becomes more nuanced. According to Einstein's theories of special and general relativity, time is not absolute and can be influenced by various factors such as motion and gravitational fields.
Special relativity introduces the concept of time dilation, which states that time can appear to pass differently for different observers depending on their relative motion. When objects move relative to each other at high speeds, time can appear to slow down for one observer relative to another. This phenomenon has been experimentally confirmed and is essential for the functioning of technologies such as GPS, which rely on precise timekeeping.
General relativity, on the other hand, describes how gravity can affect the flow of time. In the presence of a massive object, such as a planet or a black hole, time can appear to run slower in regions of stronger gravitational fields. This effect, known as gravitational time dilation, has also been observed and measured in experiments.
So, while time is often experienced as a constant and unchanging flow in our everyday lives, our understanding of physics tells us that it is influenced by motion and gravity. These effects can cause time to appear to run at different rates depending on the relative conditions.