- #1
bpl1227
- 2
- 0
I understand the concept used here, but am unsure about how scientists can be so sure of the actual age of our universe. They explain it by saying it's like pressing rewind, based on the speed that galaxies are moving away from our own, but I don't understand how you can press rewind to find out how long ago "the beginning" really was, when we don't know where the universe ends, if there is an end.
Since scientists will admit they have no idea how big the universe actually is, and like to use the term "The observable universe" how can they identify an end point to "rewind" from?
Also, I understand the concept that "nothing" can move faster than the speed of light, with empty space being nothing, but is the light itself still not traveling faster than the speed of light in this instance? If light itself travels faster than the speed of itself based on the laws of physics, is that not a contradiction to that particular law of physics in itself?
Anyways, I would appreciate some feedback on these two questions, and you don't have to "dumb" it down for me. I am not a physicist nor scientist, but will have no problem understanding any formula's that can help explain how these experts are making calculations that contradict their own "rules".
So to sum it up, here are the 2 questions once again.
1: How can we press rewind to calculate the age of our universe when we don't know how big the universe is?
2: How can light travel faster than the speed of itself under any circumstances?
Since scientists will admit they have no idea how big the universe actually is, and like to use the term "The observable universe" how can they identify an end point to "rewind" from?
Also, I understand the concept that "nothing" can move faster than the speed of light, with empty space being nothing, but is the light itself still not traveling faster than the speed of light in this instance? If light itself travels faster than the speed of itself based on the laws of physics, is that not a contradiction to that particular law of physics in itself?
Anyways, I would appreciate some feedback on these two questions, and you don't have to "dumb" it down for me. I am not a physicist nor scientist, but will have no problem understanding any formula's that can help explain how these experts are making calculations that contradict their own "rules".
So to sum it up, here are the 2 questions once again.
1: How can we press rewind to calculate the age of our universe when we don't know how big the universe is?
2: How can light travel faster than the speed of itself under any circumstances?