2006-06-13 19:39:39 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It actually follows the laws of gravity. Even when gravity is present, it is possible to reach a velocity that can escape gravity.
Technically, with gravity the universe should collapse back upon itself and the big bang would occur all over again. However, gravity is one of the weakest forces in the universe. With that said, it has been measured that the universe is expanding and accelerating at a rate that exceeds the gravitational forces required to initiate the "big crunch."
There are two schools of thought right now. One is that the universe will continue to decelerate but never completely stop or collapse upon itself. More recent theories have stated that the universe appears to be accelerating.
As it stands now, I would say that it is safe to say that the odds are extremely low of the universe collapsing back to a singularity.
2006-06-14 01:29:29 · answer #1 · answered by AstroJoe888 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No.
Gravity is an attracting force that it is believed is overcomeby the initial energy of the big bang.
As the universe expands, its gravitational potential energy increases. So its kinetic energy must decrease (conservation of energy) and it should slow down.
However, it takes billions of years for these things to happen and we have been making measurements for less than 50 years. So it is hard to know what is happening over time.
But some recent measurements indicate that the expansion of the universe is accelerating (they suggest this not because they are measurements taken over a long time, but because they have found more distant objects moving faster than they would be expected to).
This would suggest a repulsive force somewhere - and gravity is an attractive force. Gravity is also the only force known that acts on a universal scale (all other forces have a much shorter range).
This is a mystery.
2006-06-14 03:24:08 · answer #2 · answered by Epidavros 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to the big bang theory, the universe is expanding because the momentum towards expansion fron the big bang is greater than the gravitational pull.
The big bang was a giant explosion (possibly caused by gravity drawing to much matter into to small of a space). The matter then exploded forcing all of the matter to spread out. This matter continues to spread out (at a gradually slowing pace) from the monentum of its movement. As long as the outward momenteum is greater than the gravitational pull towards the center of the universe, the universe will continue to expand.
2006-06-14 02:48:30 · answer #3 · answered by stocktrader1rr 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rationale of your Q is improper...
Gravitation will only effect rate of expansion or contraction.
As per BIG BANG theory universe started from singularity and is expanding..
Violation of all laws happens in the state of singularity only.
2006-06-14 04:42:34 · answer #4 · answered by Rohit 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Law of gravitation? Gee, doesn't throwing a ball up into the air go against gravity? Objects have inertia and momentum. Gravity does affect everything, but its effects in pulling two objects together may not be instantaneous cause it has to overcome those objects' inertia and momentum.
2006-06-14 10:26:32 · answer #5 · answered by quntmphys238 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nope, for the same reason you are able to overcome the gravitational force of the Earth and jump upwards. If you jump hard enough, you can overcome the Earth's gravitational pull.
2006-06-14 17:16:51 · answer #6 · answered by yermomsux 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Gravity is a repelling force, not an attracting force. Look up any physics text.
2006-06-14 02:43:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋