Assuming that space is curved, and that no-thing exists outside of space, and that there is no 'outside' space, then if one travelled in a straight line from this planet in any direction, presumably at some point one should return to earth. So, if one left earth in a starship travelling at the speed of light in a straight line how long would the journey take? And, if at the speed of light time passes slower than on earth, then how much younger would you be than a person of identical age as you, that had stayed on earth?
2006-12-22 09:17:20 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
According to current measurements (measurements of the microwave background radiation and measurements of distances measured with white dwarf supernovae) the universe is "open": it's expanding, it's going to keep expanding forever, and it's accelerating. So unless the recent measurements are wrong, you could never get back to Earth without turning around and going back the way you came.
2006-12-22 10:02:34 · answer #1 · answered by Faeldaz M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to some people, the universe is constantly expanding. So you might never get home again! And anyway even if you could get back just by going in a straight line along the curve of the universe, it would take way too long and you would be dead before you got back to Earth.
2006-12-22 17:26:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
On Earth it would take 4 Million Years, but in Space (no time) you would only get 58 years older than you were when you started. Of course you would need a ship going light years per
2006-12-22 20:11:07 · answer #3 · answered by Mr T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Assuming that space is curved and *closed* and you could travel at light speed, no time at all would pass on your ship. However, billions of years would have passed outside, and the earth and solar system would be long gone.
Concepts like this, actually verified by experiment, are what make reality so vastly more fascinating than the superstitious twaddle promoted by newagers and religious types.
2006-12-22 17:50:59 · answer #4 · answered by hznfrst 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Forever, I really mean that. When you are talking about the end of the universe, astronomers are clearly saying , there is no end. In order to make a finite estimation , you have to find a fixed point in space, then that can be tabulated in your journey.
Outer space is so far beyond the sciences that we understand , that indeed man may never even approach full knowledge beyond our nearby galaxies.
You might find that hard to understand, I hardly understand it--but to simplify it-,what is the smallest number you can count down too-? You can't because -it is infinite because indeed in math , numbers can go lower or higher forever.
2006-12-22 17:31:40 · answer #5 · answered by THA 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
21, 547, 012, 774, 541, 699, 669, 303, 827, 727. 2 years. Less if you walk faster.
2006-12-22 17:33:14 · answer #6 · answered by anonymous 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No one knows,
you have to know where the universe ends in order to measure it, and this measurement would constantly change due to the fact that the universe is expanding
2006-12-22 17:25:01 · answer #7 · answered by WHAT?!!! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To answer your first question, it would take as long as it has to.
"Once you get far enough away, you'll be on your way back home"
-- Tom Waits "Blind Love"
2006-12-22 17:20:05 · answer #8 · answered by Fred L 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is no end to the universe no end
2006-12-22 18:24:11 · answer #9 · answered by pinkeyepurple 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do not beleive jdude's answer.
There are missing 3 more digits!!!
2006-12-22 17:36:28 · answer #10 · answered by George 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋