If space is finite but unbounded it will curve back on itself so that it would be possible for light to circumnavigate the universe. If its circumference is less than 14 billion light years, we could see images of the same galaxies in opposite directions. This would also show up as patterns in the microwave background radiation.
But what if the universe is much bigger than 14 billion ly? Is there any way that we could ever know if it is finite or infinite? If it is finite, how could we possibly estimate its size? The visible universe might be just a tiny fraction of the whole universe.
2007-10-15 12:32:28 · 3 answers · asked by Jeffrey K 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
universe is still expanding !
2007-10-15 20:37:34 · answer #1 · answered by Ali 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The total size of the universe still has higher order effects on the evolution of the universe. Since we can reconstruct the evolution, we can estimate the total size.
You also have to keep the possibility in mind that the current model might be completely false and the answer will be "it's neither bit something else". People, that includes many physicists, like to forget that just because a model is established, it does not have to be anywhere near the truth. Newtonian mechanics was extremely well established for two centuries and is still in use today... yet it is a theory that has nothing nearly useful to say about the universe. The big bang model is established for 50 years, so why do we expect it to stay in business forever? Or even another 50? We already know that dark matter and dark energy don't fit into any of our fundamental theories. As soon as we will know what they fit into, cosmology will likely change, yet again.
2007-10-15 12:43:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Science states Space is indeed finite.
2007-10-15 12:41:37 · answer #3 · answered by Tigger 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋