If the universe is endless, then how can it be expanding?

Answer 1

Can't be explained in a three dimensional framework. You must work in higher dimensional math to make sense of that concept.

Answer 2

Our Universe has no beginning and will never end as far as time is concerned. As such, it is controlled by a complex set of physical rules. To some of us, there is a cycle of Crunch and Bang -- all the material in the Universe expands outward for some billions of years, accelerated by the concept we have labelled the Big Bang, until it can go no further and all the velocity has diminished. At this point, the Laws of Gravitational Attraction cause all this material to begin collapsing again in the Big Crunch. In some number of billions of years, all the "space stuff" once again forms a highly dense ball of matter (about the size of a golf ball or ping pong ball, perhaps), and reaches a critical mass.
Another Big Bang occurs, beginning the cycle all over again.

The Universe is nothing more than the empty space through which all that "space stuff" or "star stuff" will travel and expand until the next Big Crunch. Far too many people think of the Universe as a place packed with stars, planets, cvomets and asteroids from one end to the other. The opposite is true -- there are many gaps and empty spaces between the varions galaxies. Think of a cupful of fresh peas that has thrown out onto a football field. Are all the peas clumped together or are they separated in some cases by inches and in others by feet? The Universe is similar! And the spaces between galaxies are constantly expanding even further apart, even though the individual galaxies may not be expanding very much -- held together by gravity.

Answer 3

Aren't they referring to the time of the Big Bang to now? When the big bang occurred it was at a point, then it expanded outward. The galaxies are said to be moving away from that point and away from each other, therefore the universe is expanding.

That's what I always thought they meant. Because if they say it is not expanding but collapsing, it would mean the galaxies are coming together and another big bang could result.

Don't forget that it's a theory too, base on a lot of math and science.

Also information for kicks: If the universe is expanding eventually all the stars, the galaxy etc... will fade out and die and the universe will be empty and dark. Do you think that maybe if the universe is collapsing, another big bang would result creating a new universe? Therefore, I would want another Big Bang or we'll get empty space :(

Answer 4

Empty space is meaningless without a spacetime framework and mass/energy to define it. The universe expands as the remnants of the Big Bang continue their voyage into nothingness.

Science can only account for about 10% of the mass needed to explain the rate that the universe is expanding at. Considering that, the idea that it could collapse again is basically a pipe dream.

Answer 5

Well first of all, the Universe is expanding because we can see that everything around us is red shifting, meaning going away from us and at a faster and faster speed. As far as it being endless, we can only see so far around us.........so we do not know its limitations, but it is believed to be limitless.

Your question is kinda weird to me, because it's like asking "if pant size are limitless, then how can a person be getting fatter?"

Well, they get fatter because of something that is happening.

I don't believe your question is correctly worded.
Obvious answer would be, "if it is endless, how can it NOT be expanding?"

Answer 6

The universe being expanding is observable.
The universe is not endless. Theoretically it is limited and unbound, A curve space.

Answer 7

The universe IS endless empty space. The matter inside it is expanding to fill the empty space.

Answer 8

What is expanding is the mass/energy of the universe, the space of the universe is ilimited.

what the universe is expanding only means that the mass/energy is taking up new spaces.

Answer 9

The universe has a constrained quantity yet no side. the exterior of a sphere is two dimensional. It has constrained section yet no side. in an analogous way, our universe is 3 dimensional on a 4 dimensional sphere. this is no longer ordinary to think of.

Answer 10

Fact is, no one really knows about the mysteries of the universe. You can say whatever you want and bring up facts to support your argument, but what does one really know about the ends of the universe?