|
May 24, 2006
What's Time to You?
Time. It must matter. We talk about it enough. What time is it? When does that start? How long will it take? Are we there yet? We're going to be late! Science fiction writers love to write stories about time. But what's time to you?
Think about it for a moment. You don't need the outside world in order to know something about the time. Are you hungry? That lets you know it's been a while since your last meal. Are you tired? Perhaps it's late in the day. Or are you full of energy? Morning.
And there are clues outside your body as well. Answer the following questions to see how much your surroundings can tell you about time.
Challenge: Checking the Time
- You've been asleep. You wake up suddenly. It's dark in your room, but you hear the sounds of someone making breakfast. What time is it on a Monday? On a Saturday?
- You're at soccer practice. You see cars arriving to pick up players, but the coach is still calling for more drills. How long until practice ends and everyone leaves?
- You've been playing a game with friends. It's great fun, except that your dog has started pestering you. He can't read a clock, but he knows something about the time. What's he trying to tell you?
- You're sitting outside reading. The sun's been nice and warm on your right side, then directly overhead. Now the sunlight is starting to warm your left side. What time is it?
- You come out from a movie with friends. No one has a clock or phone. You notice there's almost no traffic going by. The nearest stores are closed. Was the movie long enough to make you late getting home?
Going Further:
We feel time passing, but not always at the same pace. There is some scientific evidence that, depending on the situation, the brain can perceive and use time differently. For example, people under extreme stress, such as during a car accident, report time going very slowly. They remember precise details even though the event took mere seconds.
Make a list of when you've felt that time moved slowly for you. Then, make another list of when time seemed to speed up without warning. Compare your lists. What pattern, if any, can you detect? How could you test your feelings against the actual passage of time?
If you wish, send your lists and answers to us at scifizone@snkids.com. If we use yours, you may be eligible to win a prize! Please include your first name, age, city or town, and state. If you are under 13 years old, get your parent's permission to write to us.
This week's recommended scifi books
Art gallery
Talk Back:
Do you have any comments about this challenge? Send them
to us using the form below.
|
SNK RSS Feed 
