Are there any theories that explain where matter and energy came from?

In summary: But that's a different question. In summary, the origin of matter and energy is still up for debate among scientists.
  • #1
TheJoninator
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Like has anyone ever said a reason to how matter and energy came into existence?
 
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  • #2
Hello,

Current science is looking at how matter and energy came to be distributed across the cosmos. A "reason" suggests purpose, which deviates away from science and moves into theology and philosophy.

It might be worthwhile re-phrasing your question. If you are interested in the origins of the U, in otherwords the "how" then you will get a lot of good answers in these forums, if you are interested in the "why" then I am afraid you will not get much back.

Thanks
 
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  • #3
Thanks. I'll re-phrase it ;D

How did matter and energy come into existence?
 
  • #4
"Like has anyone ever said a reason to how matter and energy came into existence?"

If I recall correctly, Hawking says due to a Quantum Fluctuation. Others have said that 'this' is just a perturbation about zero.
 
  • #5
TheJoninator said:
Thanks. I'll re-phrase it ;D

How did matter and energy come into existence?

Essentially Big Bang theory only deals with events following Planck time, to go further back than this you would need to look into QM. Currently there is not an accepted scientific answer. There are some great threads and stickies in these forums to look at. :)

Have fun reading
 
  • #6
Well, largely this is down to inflation. Inflation was caused by a strange sort of matter that has a nearly-constant energy density. This nearly-constant energy density drives a rapidly-accelerated expansion. And because the energy density is nearly constant, the total energy increases dramatically along with the expansion.

However, the energy density isn't perfectly constant: it tends to decrease very slowly with time. Once the energy density reaches its minimum, the field tends to decay into normal matter particles.

So you start with a teeny tiny bit of this stuff that causes inflation, possibly caused by a quantum vacuum fluctuation, and then the expansion causes this energy to be multiplied by an obscene amount. Once the field that drives inflation decays, the energy becomes the matter we know and love.
 
  • #7
Philosophical aside; reason doesn't imply purpose. The reason for the magnetic force is found in the laws of electrodynamics. No purpose is implied.

It's legitimate to ask "what's the reason for the existence of existence.". The answer may or may not contain a purposeful agent.
 

1. Where did the Big Bang Theory come from?

The Big Bang Theory was first proposed by Belgian priest and astronomer Georges Lemaître in the 1920s. It was later refined and supported by other scientists, including Edwin Hubble and Albert Einstein.

2. How does the Big Bang Theory explain the origin of matter and energy?

The Big Bang Theory states that the universe began as a single point of infinite density and temperature, also known as a singularity. This singularity then expanded rapidly, creating all the matter and energy that makes up our universe today.

3. Are there any alternatives to the Big Bang Theory?

Yes, there are several alternative theories that attempt to explain the origin of matter and energy. These include the Steady State Theory, which suggests that the universe has always existed in a constant state, and the Multiverse Theory, which proposes that our universe is just one of many parallel universes.

4. How do scientists study the origin of matter and energy?

Scientists study the origin of matter and energy through various methods, including observations of the cosmic microwave background radiation, experiments at particle accelerators, and mathematical models based on known physical laws.

5. Is there a definitive answer to where matter and energy came from?

No, there is currently no definitive answer to where matter and energy came from. The Big Bang Theory is the most widely accepted explanation, but it is still a subject of ongoing research and debate among scientists.

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