I'm purely after opinion here as a few of my inlaws have been hounding me over this for a week. I'm of the opinion that it is not infinite, and their very argument for the opposite is that they can't conceive a finite universe. As if the universe really caters to a couple of old folks' capacity to visualize. what do you think and why?
2006-08-10 12:44:22 · 10 answers · asked by pandora 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
I would say it is infinite, but we are reaching the edge of the observable universe (where the galaxies are moving away from us faster than the speed of light and so we won't be able to see them no matter how good our telescopes are), so we will never know.
2006-08-10 12:50:54 · answer #1 · answered by Amphibolite 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From my understanding of the current thinking in cosmology, the truth is much more confusing than the infinite/finite discussion.
Space-time is an eleven-dimensional thing (including time as one dimension). It has been expanding for billions of years, following either the big bang, or a period of rapid inflation, whichever theory you hold dear.
In either version, time, space and the matter in it are closely tied together. That is, before the big bang, there was no space, matter, or time. When the bang/inflation occurred, space began to expand, energy coalesced into matter (strings, if you like), and time started to pass.
Our perception of space is that it is infinite, and it always has been. However, the discussion of infinite or finite doesn't really matter since there is nothing outside of it. How that all works is well beyond my pea brain to assimilate. I would recommend books or DVDs by Brian Greene, if you really want to understand, or get as confused as I am.
2006-08-10 13:21:21 · answer #2 · answered by Karl the Webmaster 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The universe has to be finite as it seems to be expanding and mathematics perceives that only finite functions can be imagined as expanding. You can't imagine adding 1 + infinity...that's seems ridiculous! Therefore an expaning universe, as discovered by Edwin Hubble in the early 1920s, confirms that our universe is finite but does not have a specific boundary. You can start a discussion at astrowhiz on Yahoo Groups on any astronomy topic that you are interested in!
2006-08-10 18:58:39 · answer #3 · answered by Taker 07 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have the opposite problem, I can't conceive of an infinite universe. It is logically ridiculous. How would we have ever gotten here if the starting point is infinitely far away? We'd never get to 2006, know what I mean? If there's an infinite number of years before 2006, how could the universe ever evolve to this point in time? I know you're talking about the size of the universe, the size of "space" -- but space and time are intertwined -- spacetime. Can't have one without the other, according to Uncle Albert.
2006-08-10 13:10:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think about it. If the universe was finite what would be at the end? A wall? What would be on the other side of the wall? It must be infinite.
2006-08-10 13:11:36 · answer #5 · answered by Barkley Hound 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi, The universe is not infinite from my perspective. But then I have had many arguements regarding "nothing" being beyond the edge of the universe. But is nothing something? Is nothing something or is nothing really nothing? It has been said that the Universe is a burning chairleg! There, a couple o three koans for you to mull over. Regards gordonw626@yahoo.com
2006-08-10 12:57:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
All recent research--COBE and WMAP programs particularly--strongly suggest that the universe will continue to expand indefinitely. By definition, the universe is everything there ever was, is now, or ever will be. In that context then the universe is "infinite."
2006-08-10 12:59:26 · answer #7 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My problem is with the definition of "universe" if you mean what we can see (all the galaxies and such) then I think its going to be finite but if you mean what we see and what that's in then it's going to be infinite.
2006-08-10 12:54:30 · answer #8 · answered by Daniel H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's finite, we just can't reach it because it's expanding so fast, and that's what makes it infinite.
Did you get what I just said?
2006-08-10 14:16:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My mind sais it is infinitum and I ask why and said again look reach all the black holds there always had galaxys after galaxys.
2006-08-10 14:51:48 · answer #10 · answered by rudy_corella 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋