I feel that if light rays get bend due to gravity then there is a chance that the rays from different stars that go to outer sphere of universe may get bend due to combined gravitational force of whole universe and come back to us from different angle to creat an illusion or multiple image of the same star. that would create a phenomenon similar to what we get when we place two mirror in front of each other and the reason why we see the universe same from any point in the universe can be this.
2006-07-14 01:44:42 · 6 answers · asked by mukesh padhya 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Your concept is right. Light from a star or galaxy can be bent by by the gravity of other stars/galaxies to form multiple images of the same object. Here's a couple of nice examples, thanks to the Hubble Space Telescope:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980614.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Abell.lensing.arp.750pix.jpg
In these, you can see multiple images of a galaxy located almost directly behind a closer cluster of galaxies.
For light to go to the outer sphere of the universe and bend so much that it comes back towards the center of universe would be taking the effect too far, though.
2006-07-14 02:39:26 · answer #1 · answered by Bob G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What a fun question!
The answer is both yes and no.
By yes I mean that you're right. the mass in the universe does bend the path of light, and so in the right situations, you can see 2 (or sometimes more) images of the same star in the night sky. this phenomenon is referred to as "gravitational lensing".
but that's not exactly the question you were asking, is it? You're asking about the Large scale structure of the universe, right?
and I think your intuition is right. In some models of the universe, the 3-spatial dimensions are linked up as if they were on the surface of a 4-dimensional sphere. this means that if you go in a straight line in any direction, then eventually you'll end up where you started!
so one of these models would certainly act the way you said: you'd see 2 images of every star in the sky!
unfortunately, if a model of the universe which is shaped like this expands too quickly, then we wouldn't be able to see the 2 images of each star...
and furthermore, it doesn't look like the astronomical data fits a universe shaped like asphere.
but it's still fun!
2006-07-14 14:58:44 · answer #2 · answered by BenTippett 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The outskirt of the Universe would be where the last mass structure exist. At that point. you can call the Universe a black hole in the sense that a ray of light cannot escape but would circle the outskirt of the Universe. The light particules are affected by gravity and follow the same rules as any other mass.
Stars at astronomical distance only appear as a lttle dot.actual
diameter and images cannot be observed only calculated.
If a star is burned out the light image from that star would still be reaching us if it was true that the speed of light is the same thruout the Universe.Hence you would be seen the image of a small black hole since a black hole is a burned out star.As far as images you are problay refering to gravitational lensing.However you would be seing a star that no longer exists.
2006-07-14 09:34:25 · answer #3 · answered by goring 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not exactly sure what you are getting at but will try to answer with what I know. I believe that the gravitational force you speak of is only theory and therefore does not really count for much. I also know that there is a certain amount of correction needed with earth based optical telescopes of great magnitude but that is to correct the diffusion cauised by our atmosphere. With the hubble telescope and similar I do not believe this has been a problem. Go check out the hubble web page for some great pics of the stars, especially one called 10billion years. the mirror situation could possibly work but would have to have something to mirror off suggesting that the universe in finite. A situation that is still being debated.
2006-07-14 08:53:18 · answer #4 · answered by willroch2003 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very interesting theory. We don't have enough data yet to test this one but it certainly sounds plausible.
2006-07-14 08:49:38 · answer #5 · answered by Ricky J. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What are you proposing that the reflective matter would be providing the bounce off?
2006-07-14 08:49:30 · answer #6 · answered by itwisme 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋