Cosmological expansion question

In summary: These forces hold atoms and their components together, preventing them from expanding with the rest of the universe. This is supported by various theories and experiments in physics, which are referenced in the sources provided. In summary, current theories and experiments in physics suggest that the expansion of space-time only affects distances between clusters of galaxies and greater distances, and is not observed at smaller scales such as atoms and molecules due to the strong forces holding them together.
  • #1
Invinoveritas
9
0
I am working off the premise that:

If Cosmological expansion is really occurring a redshift (as we currently observe) can only be obtained if (stars, planets, atoms) do not expand.

See Misner, Thorne and Wheeler comment:
"Only later does he realize that the atom does not expand, the meter stick does not expand, the distance between the sun and Earth does not expand. Only distances between clusters of galaxies and greater distances are subject to the expansion. No model more quickly illustrates the actual situation than a rubber balloon with pennies affixed to it, each by a drop of glue. As the balloon is inflated the pennies increase their separation one from another but not a single one of them expands!" [MTW, 1997, p.719].

I am looking for math or physics to justify this belief.

Thany you.
 
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  • #2
http://www.lightandmatter.com/html_books/genrel/ch08/ch08.html#Section8.2 [Broken]

See subsection 8.2.5.
 
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  • #3
bcrowell said:
http://www.lightandmatter.com/html_books/genrel/ch08/ch08.html#Section8.2 [Broken]

See subsection 8.2.5.

Thank you for the link, I read the page and it does clear up some things, but brings up another question.

1. I don't see where they give the cause or the supporting data that universal expansion is not occurring.
Brooklyn may be expanding and if so it would not produce a red shift under the current theories.

Also

Barry Parker stated and John Peacock agreed that:
The redshift of galaxies exists because their light waves are stretched as space is stretched, and therefore their wavelength is increased"

If the expansion of space-time causes light waves to belengthened, why would atoms be excluded from this expansion?

There must be something that locally overcomes this expansion if Space-Time is truly expanding.

The article basically seems to say it is not because it cant.
 
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  • #4
There's a bunch of references listed at the end of this entry from the Usenet Physics FAQ, you could check some of those for the math.
 
  • #5
Invinoveritas said:
If the expansion of space-time causes light waves to belengthened, why would atoms be excluded from this expansion?

There must be something that locally overcomes this expansion if Space-Time is truly expanding.
The "something" that locally overcomes the expansion is the electromagnetic force and the strong and weak nuclear forces.
 

1. What is cosmological expansion?

Cosmological expansion is the phenomenon in which the space between galaxies and other celestial bodies in the universe is continuously increasing. It is caused by the expansion of the universe, which is driven by dark energy.

2. How does cosmological expansion affect our understanding of the universe?

Cosmological expansion has had a significant impact on our understanding of the universe. It has helped explain the observed redshift of distant galaxies and the overall structure and evolution of the universe.

3. What evidence do we have for cosmological expansion?

There is a considerable amount of evidence for cosmological expansion, including the redshift of distant galaxies, the cosmic microwave background radiation, and the Hubble constant, which measures the rate of expansion of the universe.

4. Is the rate of cosmological expansion constant?

No, the rate of cosmological expansion is not constant. It has been observed to be accelerating, meaning that the expansion is speeding up over time due to the presence of dark energy. However, the exact rate of acceleration is still a topic of ongoing research.

5. How does dark energy contribute to cosmological expansion?

Dark energy is believed to be the driving force behind cosmological expansion. It is a mysterious form of energy that permeates the universe and counteracts the gravitational pull of matter, causing the expansion to accelerate.

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