Expert: Steve Nelson - 8/29/2010

Question
Hello Dr Nelson,

Sorry my question isn't isn't related to anything nuclear. Just sending this message because physics is not my background and I have a question in regards to the subject. What I want to know, and I'm not sure if it's a silly question or not, is: Are 'time' and 'causality' synonymous? e.g. If before the the big bang was absolute nothingness (which I'm aware this is speculation), is it required that there is 'cause' given there would not be 'time' for the event to occur?

Also if you could use as minimal scientific and mathematics terms, it would be much appreciated :)

Thank you
Anthony

Answer
No, time is a dimension.  Causality is the concept that cause precedes effect.  Since the big bang represents time=0, talking about "before" the big bang makes no physical sense unless you believe that the big bang was the "center" of time and that there's an anti-universe that went backwards from there.  Anything "before" the big bang is absolutely speculation and scientists have no definite position on that.