(last I checked explosians go in all directions)
why is the space-time continuum always shown as a flat grid?
2006-09-20 05:06:00 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Recent detailed data collected from the Microwave Background Radiation gave direct evidence indicating that the spacetime curvature of our Universe on the cosmological scale is essentially FLAT. So the 2-D representation of spacetime as a flat grid is accurate, albeit an over-simplification.
As for the shape of the Universe and as others have mentioned, we do NOT know for sure what it is yet. But suffice to say, our Universe is NOT a 3-dimensional sphere like a balloon. Your reference to the Big Bang as an explosion that goes in all direction is an unfortunate by product of too much TV-science.
The Big Bang is not the explosion that most TV program have led you to believe. That is a tremendous over-simplification, because the Big Bang is the creation event of spacetime. So what is exploding? You might think and say that it is the all the energy and matter that's exploding. Not really. The comparison of the Big Bang to an "explosion" is merely an analogy. At time zero, all the energy of the Universe and the spacetime fabric are all one and the same. The Universe expands exponentially a minute fraction of a second later and comes into being. Spacetime and energy separates akin to a phase transition.
Today, we know that the Universe is made up mostly (75%) of "dark energy" or "vacuum energy", which is energy contained in the fabric of spacetime. This dark energy is responsible for the continuing accelerating expansion of the Universe.
2006-09-20 05:59:43 · answer #1 · answered by PhysicsDude 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Others are correct--we don't know the shape and the expansion is not an explosion. The space-stuff that is most distant is moving the fastest.
One thing that is probable--the shape of the universe is not going to be described in 3-space (a sphere is a 3-dimensional form). The prevalent thinking right now is that the universe is NOT infinite in size, and yet appears NOT to contain any edges.
I tend to visualize the expanding universe as a 4-dimensional version of the SURFACE of a 3-dimensional, expanding bubble. It's getting bigger, you can travel around on it without finding an edge, and yet it's not infinite in size or necessarily "regular" or spherical in extent.
2006-09-20 05:24:10 · answer #2 · answered by EXPO 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We do not yet know the shape of the universe. There are many theories on this matter and an infinite amount of possible geometries.
That being said, it is probably displayed as a grid to help us visual ize it easier and to avoid putting boundaries or restrictions on the shape.
2006-09-20 05:10:38 · answer #3 · answered by camus140 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is not any somewhat shape to the universe, it is going on continuously and ever, in any path you're able to be able to choose for to return and forth. As for the vast bang, in spite of if it did ensue, it can't clarify what grew to become into there earlier it passed off. The farther out that we are able to work out(which with new technologies, is farther continuously), the greater stars and galaxies we are finding. further and further scientists are forsaking the vast bang thought continuously. It would not`t extremely make any experience. first of all, it grew to become into mentioned that each thing grew to become right into a small factor of super mass, then it dispersed with magnificent fury and that each element interior the universe grew to become into and is being made out of the cloth released. Then, each thing began to amplify, consequently growing to be the universe. maximum sensible minds ask your self, if there grew to become into no longer something in any respect, what are we increasing into, if not greater of the universe. If the universe ends, in simple terms what's previous the boundary. some say yet another universe. My opinion is that the universe includes all, and has no boundary or end. in spite of if, if it does end, i wish they placed up a serious warning call, to maintain wayward area travelers from falling over the sting.(the place`s Columbus as quickly as we want him).
2016-10-15 05:21:47 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since four spatial dimensions are impossible for us to imagine as long as we're stuck in 3D, imagine a cube for the universe. It has corners where objects are dropped into the underlying 4D; it has edges and sides. If you're on a box, that side is all you can see, so the universe does switch directions but not on the plane we happen to be on.
2006-09-20 06:15:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There aren't too many theorists who would suggest that the universe is spherical... likely a much more complex shape yet to be determined. One of my favorite "stack of paper napkins" lunch conversations with the cosmologists.
By analogy though, why is a map of the Earth flat? Ease of presentation.
Aloha
2006-09-20 05:16:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, I read that book by Stephen Hawking and according to that the universe is shaped like a bread with currants in it. Or something... didn't really understand what he was going on about, to be honest.
2006-09-20 21:29:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not involved into this but since our space has 3 dimensions [excluding of time],
I think that as the earth we live on is a 2D closed surface in a 3D bigger space.
the 3D space we live in may be a closed 3D surface in a 4D bigger space.
and so on..
2006-09-20 08:24:46 · answer #8 · answered by hunga bunga 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The expansion is not an explosion. Explosions do not accelerate as it expands.
2006-09-20 05:15:04 · answer #9 · answered by Who_am_i 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋