Actual and potential time and space

I’m made the point that if we’re asked how far away a place is, we can answer in units of space or time. If we’re talking about stable places such as on land, the distance will not change but the length of time depends on a characteristic speed. In that case the length of time is a potential time it would take assuming the characteristic speed. The actual speed and thus the actual time may be different.

Here’s a scenario for example: Person X asks, How far is it downtown? Person Y responds, About half an hour, which assumes a typical speed. Person X starts driving downtown and after half an hour they haven’t arrived yet. How much longer will it take? Based on this simple scenario, the time potentially remaining is the distance remaining divided by the typical speed. The actual time is not known yet.

If there is a characteristic travel speed as for a guideline or a map, then space and time are convertible into one another as potentials. The conversion is actual either after the fact when the actual speeds are known or if the conversion is fixed, as with a vehicle that only goes one speed or light which has a constant speed.

Is there a potential length of space as well as this potential length of time? Yes, if the travel time is predetermined but the distance traveled is not. For example, if someone agrees to go for a walk but only has a certain amount of time, the potential length of the walk is the allotted time divided by the typical pace (e.g., in minutes per mile).