All matter being liquid in 10^65 years if proton decay doesn't occur.

In summary, over a timescale of 10^65 years, if proton decay does not occur, atoms and molecules will slowly rearrange themselves through quantum tunneling, making it seem like all matter is liquid. However, this change is only noticeable over extremely long periods of time and does not mean that all matter will suddenly turn to liquid. Instead, solids will still appear as solids, but will act like liquids due to the slow rearrangement of atoms and molecules. This process is not observable because it occurs over such a long timeframe that humans do not live long enough to witness it.
  • #1
Dremmer
92
0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_far_future


10^65 years in the future.

Assuming that protons do not decay, estimated time for rigid objects like rocks to rearrange their atoms and molecules via quantum tunnelling. On this timescale all matter is liquid.[49]€
Does that mean in 10^65 years in the future, if proton decay doesn't occur, only liquid will exist. Solid, gas and plasma matter will no longer exist?
 
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  • #2
Just judging from what you said in your post, they are saying that all objects will tend to 'melt' over extremely long periods of time because of quantum tunneling.

Just like some (all?) glass will seem to melt over hundreds of years if you watched a rock for a bajillion years it would also seem to melt (but for surely different reasons).

An interesting idea.
 
  • #3
No. That's not what it means. It means that over a time period of 10^65 years, due to quantum tunneling, atoms will rearrange themselves, the same way liquids do but much much slower, making it seem as if matter is a liquid. It doesn't mean that all matter will suddenly turn to liquid. Read it carefully.
 
  • #4
it's saying that on this timescale, all matter is *like* liquid. When they say it is liquid, they don't mean the phase, they mean the adjective "liquid"
 
  • #5
How can a gas melt?!
 
  • #6
Oh, so that matter will still be in the solid phase but it will seem like liquid.
 
  • #7
Correct, the atoms will slowly rearrange in the solid making it look like it's kinda liquid like.

But remember that the timescale is incredibly long too.
 
  • #8
Dickfore said:
How can a gas melt?!
Over this time scale I doubt there is any gas. There would be no stars and the average temperature of the universe would be incredibly low.
 
  • #9
James Leighe said:
Correct, the atoms will slowly rearrange in the solid making it look like it's kinda liquid like.

But remember that the timescale is incredibly long too.

Oh, so it would still have properties of solid like definite shape, but it will look like liquid. I wonder if (intelligent) life would be able to survive this change if it still exists in this incredibly long period of time.
 
  • #10
heh, well, imagine telling about a thousand people to stand in a room where there's a bout a square meter for each person, and then just leave them in there for a while without telling them to do anything. I imagine they'd act a bit liquid.

I think the point is really that this is a change that is only noticeable over these ridiculously long time frames. People don't live long enough to notice it because a person doesn't even live for 10^2 years.

It's not that the stuff changes into some liquid stuff, it's that if you watched all the atoms in some solid for 10^65 years, and then sped it up really fast, it would look like a liquid because the atoms would be moving around like a liquid.

Solids will still be solids if you just took a short glance at them, but over these enormous lengths of time, they'd act like liquids.

For example imagine some water. But only imagine the water for an instant, like a picture of water. The water looks solid, doesn't it? It's the same idea.
 

1. What is proton decay?

Proton decay is a theoretical process in which protons, one of the fundamental particles that make up matter, break down into smaller particles. This process has not been observed in experiments, but it is predicted by some theories about the nature of matter.

2. How would all matter become liquid in 10^65 years if proton decay doesn't occur?

If proton decay does not occur, protons would remain stable and eventually all matter in the universe would decay into iron nuclei. This would result in a universe filled with an extremely dense liquid consisting of iron nuclei and electrons.

3. Is there evidence to support the idea that all matter will become liquid in 10^65 years?

Currently, there is no evidence to support this idea. It is based on theoretical predictions and assumptions about the behavior of matter and the potential for proton decay. However, it is important to continue studying and testing these theories to gain a better understanding of the fate of the universe.

4. How would the universe look if all matter were liquid?

If all matter in the universe became a liquid, it would be a very different place than it is now. The density would be much higher, and the universe would likely be much darker as light would have a hard time passing through the dense liquid. The structure of the universe would also change, as the liquid would not form into galaxies and other structures as matter does now.

5. What other possible outcomes could occur in the universe if proton decay doesn't occur?

If proton decay does not occur, there are various other theories about the ultimate fate of the universe. Some suggest that the universe will continue to expand until it reaches a state of maximum entropy, where all matter and energy is evenly spread out and the universe becomes a cold, dark, and lifeless place. Others propose that the universe could undergo a "big rip," where the expansion of the universe accelerates and eventually tears apart all matter, including atoms and even fundamental particles like protons.

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