Is the Universe Really Expanding?

Question

I was thinking about this. They claim that the universe is expanding, but expansion implies an object growing in space around it. My theory is that rather than the space between matter growing, the matter in space is shrinking. This would mean the size of the universe remains constant but as we are shrinking at the same rate as our nearby surroundings it appears as if space is expanding.

Perhaps it is gravity that is causing this shrinkage.

Perhaps there was no big bang, rather a big shrink, the matter collapsing under its weight and the spaces in between increasing.

This might mean that black holes in our universe form mini-universes of our own, and in turn our universe is merely a black hole in a larger one, and infinite regress of black hole dwelling universes.

I am looking for some one to provide proof that the above is wrong. There are many levels within this question so feel free to attack it at any point, or agree with some of the early points but destroy the later.

Answer 1

Your gravity effect, if real, would probably cause red shift too. What I would say though, is that your theory doesn't really obey Occam's principle. There is no need for your over-complex explanation to explain what we see. The simplest theory is simply that space is infinite (Impossible to comprehend, but probably true nonetheless) and that the visible universe is simply the matter which exists within that space. There may be a more complete answer out there, but until we have a solid reason to believe that, there is no need to get excessively creative. (indeed as seen in religion, excessive creativity will eventually lead you away from truth and reality)

Answer 2

You have a good thought process but your hypothetics do not have a sound basis to work from. I believe that you may come up with some good ideas regarding such matters once you become more aquainted with what is actually known about space and how it is known before venturing further questions.

The answer to your question is yes. This is not simply something like 'they claim'. This is observational evidence conducted through scientific research and mathematical data. Scientific fact is not based upon 'perhaps this and perhaps that' such as your hypothetical statements about shrinkage and black holes.

There are various scientific ways in which astronomers calculate distances to stars in our galaxy and distances to other galaxies. This is not guesswork nor based upon someones beliefs.

Galaxies are receding from each other. This speed of seperation is at an ever increasing rate. One day far into the future, the only stars visible in the sky will be those of our own galaxy. Other galaxies will no longer be visible.

There are chaotic anamolies which allow for the merging of galaxies. The Milky Way is no exception to this as it is merging with a dwarf galaxy and will merge will other dwarf galaxies and even Andromeda. How do scientists know this? They are able to measure these distances and correlate future paths.

Your hypothetic that everything is shrinking thus making it appear that space is expanding is easily disproved. If the Milky Way were shrinking, stars would be getting closer. This is not the case. Again, measurements between stars is based upon verifiable mathematical data. If everything was shrinking, the distance between planets would be decreasing and the distance from Earth to the Sun would decrease. This is NOT the case. Gravitational bonds allow for inter-related orbital paths. Gravity does allow for a galaxy to withhold it's shape as the space between galaxies expands. But gravity does not cause things to shrink unless you are speaking of a single individual object which can condense under it's own weight.

Your concept of black holes is in error. Your hypothetics regarding such are based upon a complete misunderstanding of the subject.

Spend some time googling 'what is a black hole'.

Answer 3

In a nutshell, YES, it is expanding. That is the only explanation of the Doppler shift in starlight.

Black holes may not exist, they may be where all the "dark" matter we are looking for is.

Shrinkage? Nice idea, but it does not fit the facts available to us as we experience the physical universe around us..

M-Theory allows for at least another six physical dimensions, (9 or 10 physical and 1 temporal). The fact that we only experience three physical and one temporal dimension may be where we get lost in all this. Shrinkage or expansion may be the same thing in 10 dimensions.

Answer 4

If matter were shrinking, we would not observe redshifts of galaxies.

Matter shrinking implies that the speed of light is changing in exactly the right way to make it appear constant. Which it is not doing because the implications of *that* would immediately evident in quantum phenomena. Like the Sun turning off.

Answer 5

the quick answer is stressful to entice close. Supposedly the universe is coming up its very own area because it expands swifter than mild. greater possibly is that scientists have no theory what's fairly happening available in deep area, around 14 billion mild years away, and got here up with that concept. i'm helpful it is composed of somewhat some innovations blowing mathematical formulation and somewhat some dark count.

Answer 6

the theory that each black hole has another mini universe inside of it has been proposed, and proved wrong. it apparently violates the second law of thermodynamics.

and the galaxies are moving farther away from eachother, but its not like we are moving farther from our sun. if your theory was true the distance from the earth to mars would be increasing, if it is increaing its only like an inch every few years, to small for your theory to be true. also to size of the earth would be shrinking, which its not.

Answer 7

Such shrinkage would not explain the velocity distribution measured from the Doppler shift of distant galaxies. In particular, it would not explain why galaxies 10 times more distant are moving away 10 times faster than the closer ones.

Answer 8

Do you have any mathematical equations or observational facts to back up your "theories"?

It would probably be fairly easy to prove that your ideas are complete rubbish but I really can't see anybody bothering to do so.

I think you've been reading too many Sci-Fi books, perhaps you should try reading a few astrophysics books instead?.

Answer 9

I prefer Ockhams' Razor on this one... it's easier to believe the universe is expanding than atoms & masses are shrinking.

But proof? I have none, in either direction.

Answer 10

i cant get u whether you are asking abut the mass,but i heard that all heavenly bodies move apart each other and at a time probably after one or two billion years the heavenly bodies will come nearby and so when earth and sun come close to each other the water will be evaporated and the temperature would be so high and there will only be lava flow all around.