LOL, I felt a disturbance in the Force!Quote by: finder
It pains me to say this,but I agree. We actually agree on something, eeeeek!
LOL, I felt a disturbance in the Force!It pains me to say this,
Religion is poison because it asks us to give up our most precious faculty, which is that of reason, and to believe things without evidence. It then asks us to respect this, which it calls faith. - Christopher Hitchens
To help stimulate the debate, I'd like to mention the horizon beyond which we cannot observe anything (besides cosmic radiation of some sort, if I remember correctly) at the veeery edge of the universe. What lies beyond? I've thought about that a lot of times. Does it simply contain nothing? No matter, no energy of any kind?
That leads to the disturbing idea that the physical universe is not in fact infinite in all directions, and that a state of nothingness where energy and matter do not reside exists. Of course, it might as well be a black hole over the edge then because it would share just about all the same properties.
On the other hand, whether the universe is truly infinite in potential volume to hold matter and energy is a different story. I think it is- why shouldn't it be able to continue expanding and doing its thing, holding atoms and particles and all the good things in life?
Well, for one, the rate of change of acceleration may itself be changing. If that quantity is a negative constant, the universe will eventually cease its expansion and begin to contract.
A good possibility as well, but whether it expands or contracts, can it ever reveal itself as having a limit to its expansion? I believe answering that holds at least part of the solution to answering the OP.
In this case, Id like to define "expansion" as the spreading out of matter and energy, which is how we define our physical universe, to locations further away from us. Very obvious and agreeable, but some might argue that the volume of the universe is expanding while the matter and energy are contracting, like a box that's getting larger while the air inside is condensing to a single point.
A distinction must be made between the two universes to make any kind of progress here.
Remember, nothing does not exist.
The universe can't be infinite. An infinite universe would contain an infinite number of every conceivable arrangement of atoms. An infine universe would contain an infinite number of you and me. This is clearly impossible and certainly undesireable - at least when it comes to an infinite number of me... the jury is still out on you.That leads to the disturbing idea that the physical universe is not in fact infinite in all directions, and that a state of nothingness where energy and matter do not reside exists. Of course, it might as well be a black hole over the edge then because it would share just about all the same properties.
I like to think of the universe as simply this area of space dominated by the recent "big bang" which is of course compressing the surrounding space and will ultimately result in other big bangs elsewhere. This process is endless or at least on a time scale that to us is endless.On the other hand, whether the universe is truly infinite in potential volume to hold matter and energy is a different story. I think it is- why shouldn't it be able to continue expanding and doing its thing, holding atoms and particles and all the good things in life?
Unfortunately our intellect simply isn't yet capable of intuitively understanding the very large or the very small. If we survive this age of insane religions we have a fighting chance though.
Religion is poison because it asks us to give up our most precious faculty, which is that of reason, and to believe things without evidence. It then asks us to respect this, which it calls faith. - Christopher Hitchens
Alright, I need to get my bearings here. You're saying that if the second (third?) derivative of the expansion is negative the universe will eventually stop expanding, yes? So in other words, if the acceleration of the expansion is slowing down, then eventually the expansion will stop?Well, for one, the rate of change of acceleration may itself be changing. If that quantity is a negative constant, the universe will eventually cease its expansion and begin to contract.
But truth, Hajjaj was convinced, held many layers.
That is correct. This is referred to as a 'jerk' I believe. We can only know the ultimate fate of the universe if we know all the derivatives of its position function - intrinsically an impossibility.
Trippy. So, it would be the third derivative of the position function and the second derivative of the expansion function (itself the derivative of the position function)?
But truth, Hajjaj was convinced, held many layers.
Yep. If velocity is the derivative of the position function, and acceleration is the derivative of the velocity function, then what I'm referring to is the derivative of the acceleration function.
A man said to the universe:
"Sir, I exist!"
"However," replied the universe,
"The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation."
-- Stephen Crane
From the perspective of the Bible the universe, including the earth, was created. It has a beginning. The Earth will last forever, in other words, it won't end. That also according to the Bible. What will end is the world, which is different than the earth. The world is the system of things with man and Satan in control.
Please, mods, let there be a laugh emote. What kind of inane babble is this crap, anyway?
A man said to the universe:
"Sir, I exist!"
"However," replied the universe,
"The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation."
-- Stephen Crane
What makes you so sure it is just inane babble? A lot of things that many people considered ridiculous have turned out to be true.
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