How will the universe end?

Question

The universe had a beginning so then it must have an ending. I am not asking when it will happen, but how it will happen.

What are your thoughts?

Answer 1

Ok, I actually know the answer to your question.

The theory that I am most familiar with is the gravity vs. mass theory. Currently the mass of the universe is more than the amount of gravity acting upon the universe, so the universe is currently expanding in all directions. Over time the universe will gradually slow down in the rate it is expanding because the amount of gravity acting on the universe will be getting closer to the amound of mass in the universe. When the amount of gravity surpases the amount of matter in the universe, the universe will be sucked down to a very, very dense ball of mass, like a black hole, only MORE dense!

At our current rate of expanding, this shouldn't happen for millions, if not billions, if not trillions, of years.

If you are familiar with the life cycle of a star, you could also understand it in this way, as both theories are VERY similar: Think red giant= the expansion were the amount of mass is more than the amount of gravity and supernova=the colapse were the amount of gravity is more than the mass in the universe.

This of course is just touching the topic, as there are many entire books written on this topic. If I just went way over your head, I am sorry.

I have read several books on this issue, and have also heard dozens of more theories, including the theory another contributer brought up about the universe reaching absolute zero. That is also a widely known theory, but to the general scientific community I believe mine is more accepted. Hope I could help you and I didn't give too complex of an answer!

Answer 2

i do not think it will ever end. I am not sure if there ever was an actual beginning. Actually, mathmatically speaking, we can not figure out a few seconds before "big bang" (which is just a theory). Plus, matter doesn't just end. It gets rearranged.

Maybe the universe will expand forever and ever. Maybe the universe will collapse unto itself but i really don't think it will "End".

As far as our world and galaxy, it will eventually collide with our neighbor galaxy, Andromeda, in 3 billion years. Earth will still get bombarded by extincting astroids every 100 million years but i don't think the whole universe will ever cease to exist.

Answer 3

Not a physicist, but the Big Crunch always made the most natural sense to me.

The other theories already accept the fact that the universe began in a singularity and is currently expanding. But what force could have been used to create that bang other than the universe collapsing on itself in the first place?

Freeze and Rip are quaint.. that would make us very special.

Answer 4

Our Neighbour (Andromeda) Is Moving Towards Our Galaxy At 250,000 Miles Per Hour, And In 300,000,000,0000 Years Time It Will Come To A Horrible Collision.

Answer 5

It won't. Just as it never began, the universe will never end. It will continue on in it's steady state for eternity. There are no irreversible processes going on in the universe. There is no expansion, no increase in entropy, no possibility of "heat death".

Answer 6

What was before the universe can't be describe since Time was not defined, it is the same thing for the end of it. It is an undefined state that we can tell.

These are questions that requires strong knowledges in quantum and relativistic physics.

Answer 7

Current theories predict that since space-time is accelerating, everything will just cool down to absolute zero. Everything in the universe will become further and further apart and it will be a gradual cooling. Bring a jacket, absolute zero is pretty chilly.

Answer 8

Quietly

Answer 9

Before the universe becomes a black hole, the earth will be blown up and for humans,
the universe won't exist, because they won't be around anymore.
C. :)!!

Answer 10

We may have missed the whole thing.Especially if we are really just the imagination of god