Hi DrakkithDrakkith said:Hi John. I see you've made several threads asking questions regarding fundamental concepts of cosmology and astrophysics (which I had to remove for being too speculative, unfortunately). It's important to understand that these topics are very complex and that everything you've likely read up to now has been an extreme simplification that loses almost all real meaning. These concepts are also very counter-intuitive for most people. Therefore it is important to take things slow. Slower than you might like.
For starters, attempting to link several different things together to develop a new explanation is a task best left to the professionals in the field. They're the ones that have the skills, time, and motivation to do things like solve the differential geometric equations required to truly understand how our current theory of gravity (General Relativity) works, let alone develop new math and physics that a new theory would require.
Case-in-point, space does not work like you've written above. The expansion of space is better described this way: "The distance between unbound objects increases over time."
Notice that I did not even use the word "space" there. This is because space (and by extension, spacetime) is better thought of as a framework, not as an entity or object that can move around, accelerate, and do similar things. The only truly dynamic feature of space is that the geometry of space can change over time. This change in geometry cannot be described in terms of motion, as it is not motion, but geometry.
In real life, geometry itself is inherently bound to measurable and observable objects, as all of our measurements of space and its underlying geometry are actually measurements of objects or disturbances within space. Hence my earlier explanation that the expansion of space is better described as an increase in distance between unbound objects instead. It is these objects which are expanding away from each other, not "space itself". Though the expansion and its associated acceleration is dependent, at least in part, on the underlying geometry of space.
I'm sure most of that makes very little sense right now, so if you have any questions please feel free to ask. In the meantime, feel free to look through the following links. I hope they prove useful:
https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/grnotes/ (a huge amount of excellent information, but also quite advanced)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduction_to_general_relativity
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambda-CDM_model
In the balloon analogy, one imagines the universe being the skin of the balloon and its contents being specks of paint (for instance) spattered onto it. The analogy helps to understand two things:John M said:ust so that I am clear on what it is that you are explaining (and in layman's terms), if we imagine the universe as being a balloon filled with all of the particles that go to make a universe, the outer skin is not expanding but the contents are? Is this correct or is this another oversimplification (or could it be this simple and we are overcomplicating it?)
John M said:Just so that I am clear on what it is that you are explaining (and in layman's terms), if we imagine the universe as being a balloon filled with all of the particles that go to make a universe, the outer skin is not expanding but the contents are? Is this correct or is this another oversimplification (or could it be this simple and we are overcomplicating it?)
Dark matter and energy are two of the biggest mysteries in modern physics. Dark matter is a hypothetical type of matter that cannot be seen or detected by traditional telescopes, but is thought to make up a large portion of the universe's mass. Dark energy is also a hypothetical form of energy that is thought to be responsible for the expansion of the universe.
The exact process of how dark matter and energy are created is still unknown. Some scientists believe that dark matter may have been created during the Big Bang, while others suggest that it may be continuously created through the decay of other particles. As for dark energy, it is thought to have always existed and may be the result of the vacuum of space.
Since dark matter and energy cannot be directly observed, scientists study them through their effects on other objects. For example, the gravitational pull of dark matter can be detected by observing the motion of stars and galaxies. Dark energy can also be studied through its impact on the expansion of the universe.
There is currently no evidence to suggest that dark matter and energy can be destroyed. In fact, they are thought to be some of the most stable and long-lasting components of the universe. However, as our understanding of these concepts is still limited, it is possible that future discoveries may reveal ways to manipulate or destroy them.
Understanding dark matter and energy is crucial for our understanding of the universe and its evolution. It can also have practical applications, such as helping us develop new technologies or discovering new forms of matter. Additionally, understanding these concepts can lead to a better understanding of fundamental physics principles and could potentially lead to groundbreaking discoveries in the future.