How can space expand, If space consists of nothing, a vacuum?

Question

To explain the expanding universe, they say "space itself is expanding", carrying along the galaxies with the expantion of the space. I makes no sense.

Answer 1

Good question. What is space? Einstein referred to it as space-time. It is a fabric within which everything sits (stuff we can see and the stuff we can't like dark matter) and the expansion of space results in the expansion of the universe. It also isn't empty, it is full of particles and anti-particles coming into and out of existence. Einstein theories also predicted that more space is being created all the time in order for the expansion to keep going.

Here are a couple of websites that may help:

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/phy00/phy00812.htm
http://science.hq.nasa.gov/universe/science/dark_energy.html

Answer 2

You are right,expanding space as such makes no sense.
Space is a quantum entity of minimum size and can't be divided or enlarged.
If you take a highly compressed space it could expand to a degree,but only so far.
After the first thirty-billionths of a second after the universe began,the density of space was unimaginable,it expanded radially becoming less dense.
Matter emerged,then stars and us.
The universe has the capacity to expand only so far then it must go out of existence.
The farthest galaxies we see don't exist to-day,maybe 90% of them do not exist.
They have retreated beyond the minimum density of space.
Our galaxy will eventually meet the same fate.
The reasoning beyond this is extensive but I'm sure it has some merit.

Answer 3

Then, Kevin, you need to do some more independent research. There's too much for you to learn, if this is the best of your understanding about THEORIES.

You need to get reading and learning. Then come back and ask a more intellectual question. I got better things to do with my time than to sit here and tell you what has been printed in SO MANY books and on SO MANY websites. What you fail to understand is so clearly explained in so many sources of "space and astrophysics."

Answer 4

Dont listen to anyone else! Due to the "Big Bang" Theory, scientists say that the bang was so massive that the universe is still growing due to it. One day it will get too dense and everything will just.....fall into deep space

Answer 5

well the idea that space is a "void," is sort of an old idea. since einstein's theory of relativity, space is actually looked as a "substance." this substance is actually curved by huge masses such as stars and planets, which creates gravity. this is what is meant by the curvature of "space-time" think of space like a balloon you're blowing up. if you had points drawn on the balloon, they'd get farther and farther apart as you blew it up.

Answer 6

By space, they mean something called "dark matter", which is 90% of the matter in the universe according to calculations.

Answer 7

Something known as "dark energy" makes it expand. Eisntein called it the "cosmological cosntant". Think of spae as a sheet which is constantly stretching.

Answer 8

Here is an article to help you: http://astroversity.blogspot.com/2007/06/explained-dark-energy.html and there is no straightforward answer to your questions except that it is dark energy. See, scientists are trying to understand how dark energy exactly works, your question is one scientists are trying to understand.

Answer 9

I am far from educated in this field, but I think it is time that is constant and expanding...very campfire, such thoughts are.

Answer 10

the mater (planets, galexies) are moving farther apart in the infinite universe