no moebius strip answers please. Explain the difference.
2006-10-02 17:50:57 · 7 answers · asked by gone 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Current thinking is that the universe is neither infinite nor eternal. However, if it were, we'd be exactly in the middle, given that it would be equally far (i.e. infinity) to the edge in any direction. A similar argument could be made in the time dimension.
As it is, Big Bang cosmology says we are in the exact center of the *observable* universe. Time-wise, we're only about 13.7 billion years in. The life expectancy of the universe is unknown, but if nothing counters expansion it should reach equilibrium (heat death) in maybe a hundred trillion years (just guessing on that last one).
2006-10-02 19:01:17 · answer #1 · answered by injanier 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Infinity is simply a numerical concept stating the lack of an upper (or lower) limit on the size of a number. To speak of our position in infinity has no meaning.
Eternity refers to the temporal concept of time lacking an upper (or lower) limit. In earlier times, the concept was simple. Time went back forever into the past, and time would go on forever into the future. Cosmology has stolen that simplicity from us. Some are proposing that at the 'Big Bang', both time and space came into existence. If indeed the Hubble Constant is such that the universe will stop expanding and begin contracting, will the resultant 'Big Crunch' also mean the end of time and space? We don't know.
The eternity referred to in the Bible that the gift of God to believers in Christ is eternal life, is life of the spirit, not of the body. For that, it doesn't really matter what happens to the physical universe. Biblical language indicates that God transcends time. In terms of physical time, we are in Anno Domini (the year of our Lord) 2006. In eternity, we are either with God or separated from Him.
That's the essence of the concepts. Common usage abuses these concepts and confuses us. We say, "I waited an eternity for the bus," when we mean we waited a long time. We also speak of it as a place with "from here to eternity," meaning a faraway place.
2006-10-03 04:18:16 · answer #2 · answered by Frank N 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even though the universe has been expanding at an accelerating rate since the moment of creation the total size of the universe is finite and therefore less than infinite distance. To answer mathematically, this means that we are still at the zero point in space because: -any- numerator value over the denominator "infinity" is considered so small as to be functionally equivalent to zero... likewise the amount of time that the universe has existed is a finite number - if you consider that number as a fraction of the total of infinite time or eternity, then the answer again is that we are still at the "zero" point.
2006-10-03 02:48:21 · answer #3 · answered by Michael Darnell 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Current point in infinity? Boy, this will not last forever - I will tell you that. Nothing lasts forever.
The nature of your question even points that there is a begining and an end. If eternity/infinity were just that, then there would be no "point in infinity" as things would have no place.
2006-10-03 00:54:33 · answer #4 · answered by Lord of the Apocalypse 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The physics-based answer is that we're at 14 billion years after the creation of the universe.
2006-10-03 01:42:17 · answer #5 · answered by arbiter007 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WHAT
A
DUMB
QUESTION
WHICH
HAS
NO
MEANING
WHATSOEVER
NO
OFFENSE
2006-10-03 00:58:14 · answer #6 · answered by Yankuta118 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
and his brain goes......................
POP!
2006-10-03 00:52:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋