When and if the universe stops expanding, does time cease?

Answer 1

According to physics theory it would, but not according to common-sense (in my opinion!)

Any sentient beings without advanced degrees in physics and access to astronomic equipment capable of measuring the bounds of the universe who still lived on worlds after the expansion stopped would still get up and go to work as though nothing had happened. This would be especially likely if the sun still came up in the morning and the world continued to rotate around it.

But by the time the expansion stopped-- and scientists now say it won't but they haven't had time to learn-- all the suns and stars are supposed to have burned out and their satellites' orbits at a much farther distance, perhaps outside the gravitational field. Regardless of that, if any clocks and watches were running and calendars still around, and anybody was there to mark the time they recorded, time would still exist.Time, in the common sense usage, would not end so long as there were recurring processes such as planets rotating around suns, for the people, if they were on these planets, would still mark the position of the sun by sundials or whatever, and compute clock and calendar time accordingly.

But I think that time in physics is defined a little differently, and, by definition, cessation of expansion would indicate the end of time in the universe. For people ignorant of this, time would continue as long as the clock of the human pulse continued to tick. We are all wind-ups, and our natural processes take place in a framework of time regardless of what scientist repeals time.

Stephen Hawking once fell into the error of thinking that time would start flowing backwards when or if the universe started contracting again, and past events would recur in reverse order like a film running backwards. He admits this without evident embarrassment in "A Brief History Of Time". By the time the book was written he had changed this opinion, but still said that time in a cosmological sense will be over when the universe stops expanding, and will be cosmologically reverse when the universe begins contracting. Ye physicists and Einstein brains who see my errors in this, correct them!

Answer 2

When and if the universe stops expanding time will not cease. People will still get older and things will still wear out.

Answer 3

Time will last as long as the universe does. It is one of its dimensions. If the universe is expanding above the critical rate, it will go on forever, even after all the stars have burnt out and time will go on. If it is expanding below the critical rate, it will contract and eventually end and so will time.

Answer 4

The answer is probably NO! What makes you think expansion will cease? The latest astronomical evidence is that the expansion rate is accelerating. They don't know exactly why it is accelerating but it has something to do with dark energy. I say probably no because it would take something pretty drastic to stop the expansion which might affect space-time.

Answer 5

No, at that point the universe begins contracting. Regardless of whether it's expanding or contracting, it's still happening in time.

Answer 6

Time is a function of the space-time continum. If the universe, stops expanding, mass still occupies space, therefore time continues.

Answer 7

there is 3 theories one is the super freeze theory, the super rip and the different is the super crunch theory. i assume you're reffering to the super crunch, I certainly have provided you with a piece of writing explaining all of them ;) certainly, there grow to be a concept that if the super crunch might take place that there could be a huge bang, yet that concept grow to be dysproven in 1990. the main clever theory is that the universe will freeze by sluggish drop in temperature.

Answer 8

Does anyone really know if it's expanding or contracting? Isn't this just scientific hypothesis?

Answer 9

I wish I could take a look to the edge and what's on the other side, wouldnt that be a sight.