How do we grasp the idea of limitless universe & yet expanding?
2007-01-03 23:02:05 · 13 answers · asked by Tokicha 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
as far as we know, the universe is infinite! there is nothing to suggest a limit.
the expanding universe refers to the move of stars and galaxies. they mostly move away from each other.
initial, scientists thought the move came from big-bang, but they discovered recently that speed is increasing not decreasing which made the them think about black energy and black matter.
there is a mathematical theory named "theory of everything" that suggest that universe has shape and is near (in a multidimensional way) to other universes. but this is something else.
2007-01-04 00:36:28 · answer #1 · answered by bily7001 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The universe is not infinite. It began at the beginning of time. Basically the Big Bang.
Consider this, if time had an infinite past then regardless of what state the universe was in an infinite amount of years ago, by now it would be in a complete steady state. It's a simple limit problem to the laws of thermodynamics.
Same type of deduction could be used to prove that the universe is not infinite in size. Also, consider this- if the universe was infinite and somewhat uniform in matter distribution, every angular point in the sky would eventually end a a star and the Sky would be infinitely bright.
2007-01-04 07:44:05 · answer #2 · answered by rokiko 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many concepts that are quite difficult to get your mind around. Infinity is a difficult concept to fully grasp for a finite mind. I have heard the comment made that it takes a very enlightened individual to be able to see the universe in a grain of sand and eternity in a fraction of a second. To know what a grain of sand is and to know how long a second is, are two very common concepts. Not many people have been able to see the universe in a grain of sand or eternity in a fraction of a second. It is not something you can teach someone else, but it is a journey within.
We perceive the universe with our senses as 3 dimensional, with time being the 4th dimension. We can perform experiments that question this premise. I am sure the universe is quite simple if all was known about it. If we could perceive every dimension that exist, we would find that the shape of the universe is, because it can't be any other way. Everyday, we learn more and more about less and less, until we know everything about nothing.
2007-01-03 23:14:16 · answer #3 · answered by Mr Cellophane 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Universe may or may not be infinte. How can you possibly know? We cannot see anything beyond our event horizon, 20 billion lightyears away.
The part of the Universe we can see is expanding, and beyond that it is almost certain that there is a lot of other stuff that is expanding too. Beyond that, it may or may not be expanding. There may be other "big bangs".
At any rate, an infinite Universe is not incompatible with an expanding Universe. It expands, and yet it is still infinite. What's the problem? Infinity x something = infinity.
2007-01-04 01:36:56 · answer #4 · answered by cosmo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes the concept of a limitless expanding universe is contradictory.
The universe is finite and will one day go out of existence.
2007-01-05 03:03:13 · answer #5 · answered by Billy Butthead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to know the secret which only I have! Its so simple! Mass expands at the same rate as the expansion of the universe! Unfortunately, I have no way to prove this due to the fact that by the time I was done calculating, mass would have changed!
2007-01-03 23:15:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Obviously an infinite Universe cannot expand.
Its expanding because it is NOT infinite.
Get yourself a book on cosmology - Stephen Hawking's 'brief history of time' is as good a place to start as any.
2007-01-04 00:51:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Universe is NOT Infinite...it has measurable limits and yes all matter is moving away from each other....
So the Universe is not expanding from a central location outward but just outward.
2007-01-03 23:36:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that they are observing that masses in space are moving farther apart. However, since space is theorized to have a "structure" that bends from matter, astronomers think that the actual "structure" of space is expanding.
Personally, I agree that space is infinite. So, I just think that objects in space are just moving farther apart.
2007-01-04 02:55:58 · answer #9 · answered by Michael n 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By the big bang theory,we know that universe is expanding.Albert einstein also said in his report about expansion of space .it is because of temperature and explosion of something.
2007-01-03 23:08:51 · answer #10 · answered by karthic r 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋