If the universe is ever expanding, is there a limit to its expansion?

Answer 1

It all depends. The controlling factor is the total amount of matter in the universe. As far as has been detected, this is very close to the "tipping point" between continued eternal expansion and a slowdown and eventual stopping and reversing (a contraction). The thing is, we don't know how much "dark matter" there is, and we still don't know definitively if neutrinos have any mass or not. So, at this point in our knowledge you can take your pick. Neither one is attractive. In a n eternally expanding universe, every particle of matter that isn't gravitationally or chemically bound to another will recede from it forever. This would mean that at a far distant time, our galaxy would be all we could detect in the heavens, and since there is only so much matter in our galaxy which can give rise to stars and stars have a finite life, the universe, if we could still exist under those conditions, would be a totally dark, cold p[lace. A contracting universe would be no better. Once expansion stopped and contraction began, the entire universe would be totally bright, and inconceivably hot. Neither sounds like my idea of a nice environment.

Answer 2

At present, it seems that the expansion of the Universe is being driven by "Dark Energy".

Hardly anything is known about Dark Energy. It is the subject of active research.

As long as the Dark Energy dominates the dynamics of the Universe, the Universe will continue to expand. However, some theories about the Dark Energy indicate that it may not dominate forever. Way back in the early Universe there was an exponential expansion phase like we are having nowdays (nowdays meaning in the past few billion years). That early expansion came to an end. This implies that the current expansion phase might come to an end at some point in the future as well. If the Dark Energy is indeed some kind of "false vacuum" energy, it could perhaps spontaneously switch from a slightly positive false vacuum to a slightly negative false vacuum. This might cause the Universe to collapse.

Basically: no one knows. It could go on forever, or it could re-collapse.

Answer 3

The only thing that could limit it's expansion would be the collective gravity of every thing in the universe.
It was once believed that this is what caused the rate of expansion to slow down...but we'v e recently discovered that the rate has been accelerating.
It is now beleived there's not enough mass in the universe to stop the process...it should expand forever.

Answer 4

yes and no!!!

yes!

there is a time where all the galaxis will reach their energy limits and will be overcome by their magnetic pull toward each other and finaly collapse at the same or faster rate than the current rate in which the universe is expanding. causing the big crunch in which all galaxies will melt into one large fireball that will wipe ouy all lifes existance.

no !!

the universe will continue expanding since more and more energy is curently being created thus all galaxies will cool down into a dormant and lifeless universe.

OOPS!! i JUST CONFUSED MYSELF SORRY!!

the answer to that isn't Quite accurate according to current theories.

Answer 5

Space itself does not expand,it is made up of quantum entities,which vary slightly in size due to the quantum effect.
The pressure in this growing medium becomes less as fundamental particles are formed.
Eventually it will reach a state of low density,such,that it will be unable to sustain itself and it will begin to go out of existence!

Answer 6

Astronomers have been trying to solve that since the discovery of the expansion. The farther we look, all we see is expansion at ever increasing speeds.

Answer 7

Scientifically, it should continue expanding, but there are some religions that say that it is going to explode after a while.

Answer 8

The energy causing it to expand.

Answer 9

Current evidence and our knowledge say there is no limit.

Answer 10

Probably there's no limit