If the universe is expanding what is it expanding into?

Question

Also if we are expanding will it expand to a point of it getting weak and breaking up or will it come back on its self like an elastic band if this is so will it cause another big bang and the universe starts again and if so have many time has the universe been formed and does it form exactly the same each time if so have we been here before???

Answer 1

My understanding (or lack of it) is that it's not expanding "into" anything because, by definition, the universe is everything, so there is nothing outside it, not even any more space, for it to be expanding into. That's a puzzler, isn't it? On your question about whether it will contract again and then recycle, like a yo-yo, I gather from the science popularizers that that's considered as a real possibility, but admittedly is nothing but a guess. There no evidence on that, because if it ever recycled in the past, all the evidence would have been destroyed in the last big bang. Another possibility, discussed sometimes, is that it will keep expanding without limit. I don't really see how it could break up, or exactly what would be meant by that. In a sense it is already broken up, since the fact that it's expanding means its components are already flying apart. The two links below give good short discussions of the b.b. theory; but, disappointingly, they do not attempt to answer your most interesting questions.

Answer 2

When we say the universe is expanding, what we really mean is that its space-time fabric is stretching, which makes it seem as if the galaxies are flying away from one another. A popular analogy is the surface of a balloon painted over with polka dots. As you blow into the balloon, it expands and the polka dots move apart. What actually happens is that the rubber membrane is stretching, pulling the dots apart.
Space-time has been 'there' as long as we know. It encompasses all universe, as it always did. So the universe, when it 'expands', doesn't really go anywhere, only its space-time fabric stretches to create that illusion.
Until recently, it was not clear whether the force of gravity between the galaxies would slow them down and pull them back into a big crunch (shrink the fabric, that is), but growing evidence suggests that there is a repulsive (i.e., stretch force) which is pushing them farther and farther out past the point of no return.

Answer 3

This question is asked at least once a week, in exactly the same words. Why don't you look up some of the old best answers?

The best evidence at present is that "our" Universe, the Big Bang, will expand forever. In fact, it seems that the "Dark Energy" is going to increase that rate of expansion.

The Universe as a whole (chaotic inflation theory here) may be infinitely old and infinitely large. It is an interesting question whether that is sufficient to guarantee an exact repeat of the current configuration of stuff. Neitzsche worried about this just before he went nuts.

Answer 4

The Void.

There is much speculation on if the Universe contains enough mass to cause an eventual collapse "back upon itself." This may be or not be the case.

Just for the record, time only exists with spacial reality. If and when everything collapses into a singularity, there would be no time and any possible new creation (or Big Bang) would have no relation time-wise to the current one. It might be "before" or "after" or "concurrent" with present reality.

This topic is more of a metaphysical one than an astronomical one. Science can only deal with that which is observable in the known physical objective realm. Everything else is speculation.

Answer 5

we may be able to assert that the Universe is increasing by employing employing Hubble's regulation which tells us that a galaxy's speed of recession (the speed at which it really is shifting faraway from us) is proportional to its distance from us, i.e. a galaxy more effective away strikes faraway from us swifter than one close to to us. The pull of gravity isn't as large on those more effective away so that they bypass swifter. this can nicely be confusing to comprehend on the grounds that that could want to recommend we are contained in the centre if each and every thing is shifting faraway from us - so attempt to imagine the galaxies as dots on a balloon. As you inflate the balloon, each and every of the dots get more effective faraway from one yet another and if you're sitting on one dot, it would not look like you're shifting yet fairly that each and every thing else is. There are 3 fashions for the increasing universe: the first is the position the mass contained contained in the Universe isn't large adequate to conquer the speed of advance. The Universe will improve perpetually. the second one is the position the speed of advance isn't adequate to conquer the mass and gravity pulls each and every thing again to the position it all started. The severe style is the position the Universe includes adequate mass to maintain away from continuous advance, yet not a lot that it's going to cave in - this is going to stay in a unmarried position, not increasing or contracting. I save in concepts reading that the initial burst of sunshine from the large Bang prolonged out in a halo of sunshine and if shall we get to the present 'area' of the Universe, shall we see that gentle, yet would not be in a position to be sure something previous it, on the grounds that gentle hasn't reached there yet! i appreciate that theory XD

Answer 6

An analogy may be in order. Model spacetime by a
sphere with time being represented by going down
a longitude line and space for a fixed time being
represented by a latitude line. The Big Bang would
be represented by the north pole. In this model,
space expands until we get to the equator and then
starts to contract again until we get to the south
pole, which represents a 'Big Crunch'.

Now ask what space is expanding into. By
looking at our model, we see the question is either
meaningless, or just has the answer 'into the future'.

In the real world, the spacial part is three dimensional,
not one dimensional like in our model (the circles of
latitude). Also, it is likely that the universe
will expand forever, so instead of a sphere, a
trumpet shape may be more appropriate. But the actual
models used by scientists are generalizations and
elaborations of models like this toy model. So the answer to your question is "the universe is expanding into the future".

Answer 7

Dimensions 5 through to 14, or Universe is 4 Dimensional Bubble

Answer 8

form exactly the same again? no, things aren't that structured. saying it's expanding is misleading. it's growing. so no, it won't cannon back in on itself. but still, what is it expanding out into? what's happening to what the universe is expanding into? what is out in that area? does area, space, matter, even exist out there?

this question's pretty interesting too, and is related to this kind of thing: http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ak6fcJOVjRpwWb4dkHr4vREgBgx.?qid=20060917093548AAnoOhY

Answer 9

the universe is infinite, you'll never run out of room. If you live to be a million years old you may notice a few less stars and our planets will be a little furthur apart

Answer 10

I listened to an interview with the guy who discovered quasars last night, aarten Schmidt who also studied under the guy who discovered the Oort cloud, Jan Oort.

His answer was very simple, we don't know.

Any other answers are just fantasy rubbish and speculation.

Personally I would listen to him, your an idiot if you believe any of the other rubbish posted here.

The interview can be found on BBC iplayer under the naked scientist if you search for Dr Karl, interview was march 2013