how can the universe be infinite?

Question

pie is not infanate it stops eventualy, the sun is not infanate or planet we are not so wats out there and where does it stop????????????

Answer 1

In my humble opinion it is beyond human comprehension to believe that the universe just goes on and on. All of these people with really scientific answers honestly do not have a clue what is out there.

I find it difficult to get my tiny mind around the idea of infinity even though I know that it must be true.

If the universe just stops and then there is nothing...then what is nothing?

Nothing has got to be something.

Its like when people say that there are as many planets and stars in the galaxy as there are grains of sand on the earth.....can you imagine that.....think of all the deserts in the world and how much sand there actually is.

It is hard enough trying to imagine how many grains of sand there are in a bag from your local DIY store....never mind a beach or a desert.

So the galaxy or universe must go on forever..........its just really hard to get our heads around it and all these people that say they know what is out there whether it is theory or fact have in fact not got the foggy-est!

Answer 2

We like to say that the universe is some size. That size increases as our technology enables us to see more. So, the number keeps getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger. For some reason, we assume that we are in the middle of it when it is not logical that we would be. Why of all the billions of stars would our Sun be picked to be in the exact middle of 13.7 billion, 15.7 billion, 165 billion, or whatever the current number is in light years? We can see 15.7 billion light years in all directions from the earth and based on that, we say that the universe is 15.7 years old. Why would the age of the universe only be what we can see? We are very small things in the universe with limited technology.

How can the universe not be infinite?

Before the universe, there was nothing. Infinitely nothing. Then the universe filled the nothing. It must be infinite. There may be a finite number of planets and stars that seem to be growing farther apart but, we don't even know that because we can only see 15.7 billion light years.

The universe is created in a manner that causes it to continuously recreate its self. Particles from explosions are re-used to create more planets and stars. This process has been going on for over 15.7 billion light years and there is no reason that it won't continue to happen forever. If you think of the earth and yourself as being comprised of matter that exists in the universe that will be eventually re-used again and again and again, you are infinite as is the earth.

Answer 3

The reason the univers is thought of as infinit is that it is expanding at a great speed. The question of 'expanding into what?' and 'why is there space there in the first place?' are not considered by scientists as they are thought of as theological questions. So, in real terms and in actual physicality, the universe may not be infinit and may end somewhere but this is way beyond our range of thinking and would not fit any of the thoeries that we presently have. In other words if science were to suddenly discover/admit that the universe was not infinit then they would have to re-wright every physics law there is and there would be chaos.

Think of it like this. Our knowledge is like a new born baby. When he is really young he knows that when he lets go of his rattle it drops to the floor, so he is aware of the effect of gravity but has absolutley no understanding or knowldge of it. As he gets older and more experienced he discovers new things that tell him more about this effect and he can assimilate that new knowledge to his own and in doing so change his theory on gravity. As he gets older still his knowledge becomes more complete until he understands gravity and what it does. He can then think back to when he droped his rattle and understand what was happening. Well, we are just like that baby, we know nothing yet about the universe we have to wait until time and experience show us new things.

Answer 4

Basically it can because we have not proved it cannot...
The mere thought of eternal/infinite is beyond human comprehension... Everything we have been able to experience here on this earth has an end... or so it seems. So... I just try not to worry about it too much cause well it makes me realize how little I, or anyone else for that matter, really knows.

Answer 5

As space is curved if you travelled in a particular direction you would carry on for ever just as on the earth if you travelled west you could do so for ever although you would eventually come back to the same spot. But you could just carry on travelling for ever. However the earth isn't therefore infinite in volume and neither is its surface in area so why should we think the universe is? I agree with you. How could it be? Or rather why should we think it is? It could be one supposes but there seems no particular reason to think it is.

Answer 6

How can it possibly stop. What, is there a wall at the end of the universe or something? And, even if there were a wall, there would have to be something on the other side.

Answer 7

The Universe is not infinite. It is expanding at an ever increasing rate, and as it expands it creates more space and more time. Beyond that there is Eastenders.

Answer 8

Well until someone finds the end of the universe it will always be considered as infinite.

Answer 9

Its constantly expanding - according to theory - so we'll never really find the end of it. So its considered infinate.

Beyond space is nothing, in theory!!!

Answer 10

It's because the universe is expanding (the great expansion theory)