If matter is in a state of motion relative to all other matter, and this mass (with the help of gravity) will coalesce into larger objects eventually fall into some kind of circular or rotational system like moons to planets, planets to stars, stars to galaxies, is the universe in a state of rotation?
2007-07-05 10:27:03 · 7 answers · asked by ZORRO 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Imagine the universe is a spinning merry go round, but there exists nothing outside it. You have no reference frame to see that you are spinning. But in your gut you can feel the tug of centripetal acceleration. There has to be a way to detect it!
It gets very complicated since we don't know fully the geometry of the universe, yet we know it is expanding. Perhaps we could measure variances in the predicted and measured blue/red shifts of bodies toward or away from the center of the universe.
Also, the source below suggests a way of measuring biases in directionality of the microwave background to detect rotation.
2007-07-05 11:11:06 · answer #1 · answered by Jud R 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The universe could be rotating. If it is, it would be possible to detect the rotation. Linear movement at a constant speed can not be detected but accelerations can be. And a rotation is an accelerated motion. Rotation causes an apparent centrifical force like you feel when riding a merry-go-round. If the universe rotates, this apparent force would be detectable in the microwave background radiation. So far, no rotation has been detected so either the universe is not rotating or it is rotating too slowly for us to detect at the present time.
2007-07-05 18:53:57 · answer #2 · answered by Jeffrey K 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All objects in the universe, stars, planets, galaxies, are in a state of rotation.
Now, if you consider the universe in its totality, it is impossible to say whether it is rotating or not, because any movement must be referred to another external object, acting as "reference point".
2007-07-05 18:01:38 · answer #3 · answered by NaughtyBoy 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We have no way of telling if the universe is rotating. To do that there would have to be something stationary *outside* the universe we could use. It's like you can tell the car you're in is moving by watching things outside go by. With the universe there's nothing *outside.*
2007-07-05 17:47:36 · answer #4 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, there is no way to detect if the universe is rotating. Rotating with respect to what? It's all relative, and we don't have anything else to compare it to.
2007-07-05 18:08:38 · answer #5 · answered by eri 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thats sort of wierd. I guess its possible but then again who is to say that its not space-time thats moving and we are stationary compared to it. Seems rather impossible to test and not particularily relevant either.
2007-07-05 17:30:58 · answer #6 · answered by sd d 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've been wondering the same thing. I'm going to assume the answer is yes. I'll be waiting for an educated answer too.
2007-07-05 17:47:48 · answer #7 · answered by Linda 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋