Does the universe stretch out infinitely?

Answer 1

That's one of three theories. We have enough evidence to support the idea that the universe is currently expanding. Either it will keep expanding infinitely, it will eventually slow down and stop and stay the size it is, or it will continually expand and contract. In that last theory, basically, things like black holes will start to suck everything in, then sucking each other in, until all matter is condensed into a super-tiny point. At which point, gravity will force it to explode, and expand at a rapid pace, at least at first. It gives insight to the big bang theory.

I used to believe this last theory, because it would certainly explain the role of black holes. But some recent research and hypotheses have made the infinitely-expanding model seem more credible. Unfortunately, we just don't know for sure.

Answer 2

Although the universe has a "diameter" or width depending on your convention, it does not "stretch out infinitely" in the strictest definition of your question.

This is because, as Einstein put it in his documents detailing a relativistic view, not only does the universe have no absolute centre; it also has no edge.

Consider this. When we look out into the cosmos, we see absolutely NOTHING as it is right now. The farthest we can potentially see is 13.7 Billion Light Years away, representing what transpired 13.7 Billion years ago (the Big Bang). But even closer, nothing exists as it does today. In fact, by our observation, WE are the only things that exist in this time, relative to us.

For another perspective. Imagine standing on some star in Betelguese. From their relativistic perspective, THEY are the only thing that exist in the present, and their image of us merely an image of the past.

From both locations, they will appear to be the height of all time, with both space and time extending respectively outwards and backwards from them. Therefore, in relativistic terms, both the Earth and Betelguese are the centre of the universe. But then again, the same could be said for anywhere.

All this thus leads to the conclusion that the universe can neither stretch out infinitely nor can it have non-relativistic dimensions because if you go to the edge of the universe from our own perspective (never mind that you would be going back in time), then their relativistic view would hold that we were the edge of the universe.

But I guess that's 4 dimensions foryou.

Answer 3

Most scientists tend to think the physical universe as we know it is finite unbounded. I.e., not infinite in size.

A simple example of this is the surface of the earth. It is a 2 dimensional surface embedded in 3 dimensions. It is finite (as we all know) but unbounded (since there is no beginning and end)

Which means if you could travel through the universe you could potentially end up where you started just like you could if you could travel across the surface of the earth.

Read the lecture by Stephen hawking. It mentions this.

Answer 4

The universe is infinitely huge from everything I've ever heard - which would mean it doesn't need to stretch because it's already that big and then some.

I love black holes!

Answer 5

Einstein says that space is curved....which is probably true...however after the Big Bang, matter has been moving out away from a common center...equally in all directions....that tells me that it could go on forever without curving...but i cannot vision something moving outward forever, it may be easier to say that eventually gravity will overcome the movement outward and space and matter will move back the other way and eventually collapse on it self like a rubber band springing back, perhaps that may cause yet another Big Bang, and here we go again...

Answer 6

There was a theory that the galaxies are moving at increasing speed, stretching the universe, but I don't know if that's true.

Answer 7

No..
The universe is not infinite..
It is between 160 and 180 billion light years across / wide and
is expanding with increasing speed...

Answer 8

We don't know exactly how big the universe is, or for that matter if it is expanding. There are theories, but know one knows.

Answer 9

Yes it does! There, I've solved that problem. Next?

Answer 10

It is, and each section of has some galaxies.