EXPANSION OF THE UNIVERSE...(serious answers only)?

Question

there is plenty of evidence that space itself ( the universe ) is expanding. if so, shouldnt it mean that matter ( the atoms themselves ) are expanding in size ( as they exist within the fabric of space ) ? please post your thoughts ( i would prefer professionals only )

if matter also expands, then why does the distance between objects increase ? if only the distance increase, then doesnt matter occupy a position "independent" to space ( instead of existing within it [ as it is believed ] ?

i believe the key to understanding this paradox is the next step in theoretical physics.

Answer 1

It is a mistaken idea that space itself is expanding. If space were expanding then any source of radiation would be changing in frequency as the space expanded. This could be easily detected since the speed of light is constant.

All objects in the universe are moving outward from the Big Bang. This transition outward is in a dimension that is perpendicular to all spatial dimensions. We recognize this as the time dimension. All objects have no spatial motion and because they are all moving on a radial line in the time dimension the spatial distance is increasing.

You may see this by drawing lines from a point outward. You will note that as the lines move away from the point their distance increases from each other.

The forces of mass, gravity, hold the distance between objects. There is no resistance to the force of gravity by the outward transition from the Big Bang. This is because as already stated the outward transition is in a different dimension then any spatial dimension and one dimension is independent of action in another dimension.

You now have the answer for the next step in physics.

Answer 2

Firstly, atoms exist ON spacetime (the fabric of space) not within it!

Given this, and the fact that the Universe is expanding (or spacetime is expanding/stretching), it can be seen that

a) atoms do not have to change their size,
b) the distance between objects will increase due to the
expansion, and
c) matter does NOT occupy an independent position.

Reasons:
a) This is not necessary to account for any observations
b) As matter exists ON spacetime, it is spacetime that
stretches and that fact that spacetime is curved, the distance
between objects will increase. Think of blowing up a balloon
covered in dots. The dots move with the rubber but also the
distance between the dots increases due to the curvature of
the balloon.
c) As explained in b, matter moves along with the expanding
spacetime and so it's position to everything else in the
Universe alters. Thus there is no independent position.

Incidentally, this is why most things look as though they are moving away from us no matter in which direction we look. Imagine us as one of the dots on the balloon. No matter in which direction you look in, all the dots will be moving away from us due to the expansion of the balloon.

It is true that some things are actually moving towards us, but this is due to the fact that, unlike the balloon analogy, real matter is subject to forces such as gravity and impelling forces (things hit other things and move them, gas moves things etc). So, in reality the dots on the balloon's surface are free to move in directions other than that in which the balloon is expanding, so some dots could approach others

Answer 3

I'm actully reading "THE UNIVERSE IN A NUTSHELL" by Stephen Hawkings and it says "Observation of galexies indicate that the universe is expanding: the distance between almost any pair of galexies is increasing" in figure 1.14 it shows a representation on what most theories basicly mention as the shape of the universe. It shows something that looks like the bottom half of an acorn. imagine all the galexies towards the bottom are closer together because there is not as much space,because the "acorn" tapers toward the bottom. So in theory all the galexies are moving toward the top of the "acorn", thus having more space, so they grow farther apart.
It says "...Observations revealed that the farther other galexies are from us, the faster they are moving away. the universe is expanding, with the distance between any two galexies steadily increasing with time. This discovery removed the need for a cosmological constant in order to have a static solution for the universe."

Answer 4

Matter itself does not expand but the distance between objects in space does. Matter itself is held together by the interaction of what are called force carrying particles. The four categories of force carrying particles are the electromagnetic force, the gravitational force, the weak nuclear force, and the strong nuclear force. The electromagnetic force, is mediated by the photon, the basic quantum of electromagnetic radiation. The strong force is mediated by the gluon, the weak force by the W and Z particles, and gravity is thought to be mediated by the graviton (which is a theoretical particle.) These forces are strong enough to be able to withstand the expansion of the universe.

The next step in theoretocal physics is to create a theory which will unite these four forces. This is what string theory attempts to do.

If you want a better understanding of these particles and about the exapnsion of the Universe, I HIGHLY reccommend reading "A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking. Its an amazing book which is relatively short and its written in such a way that people with limited knowledge of physics and mathematics can understand it.

Answer 5

given the expanse of space (i.e., universe) that is expanding and the rate, then it would seem that even if you are correct about matter expanding also, it would seem that such a small rate and distance at the atomic level would not be undeterminalbe.

As a correlary to your question: If everything is expanding at a constant rate, then everything you are measuring and with which you are measuring is also expanding -- relative to your measurement system, there would be no difference over time. If there is a detectible difference, then the expansion is not uniform.

Answer 6

I'm not a professional cosmologist, but I do know that the rate of expansion increase with distance. Hence, an atom or molecule, even if it is expanding, does so at a minute rate. Remember, also, that gravity (being the weakest of the forces) is able to hold clusters of matter (i.e. planetary systems, even clusters of galaxies) in check, so that their expansion rate is slowed...or stopped). It is space that is expanding, so atoms are probably expanding as well, but at such a slow rate as to be unnoticed.

Answer 7

I personally have thought this many times! There would be no way to measure this phenomenon due to the constraints of time though. It is the only thing that could possibly explain the missing matter in the universe! I.E., the missing matter would not have been created until after the measurement was made!

Answer 8

The distance increases, not the atoms. But why does this then mean to you that they are independent?

Answer 9

where would the space be expanding to, i think that the atoms themselves are just shrinking so it looks like its expanding

Answer 10

The answer lays in Quran.