Well, neither mass nor energy are perfectly conserved. Mass isn't a conserved quantity at all: we can and do generate new mass all the time in particle accelerators. Energy isn't conserved in curved space-times, such as an expanding universe.Tim13 said:Perhaps I misunderstand the big bang theory but doesn't it basically hold that nothing existed prior to the big bang? If there truly was no energy or mass prior to the big bang then doesn't that conflict with the law of conservation of mass and energy?
Chalnoth said:Energy isn't conserved in curved space-times, such as an expanding universe.
Here's an in-depth analysis:g.lemaitre said:I wasn't aware of this. Could you elaborate?
Its fits with my previous statement. It is possible, under certain conditions, to define an energy such that it is conserved and also always zero for an expanding universe. It still isn't a general statement.d3mm said:What do you think of the zero energy universe hypothesis?
On the Zero-energy Universe
Marcelo Samuel Berman
http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0605063
Chalnoth said:Well, neither mass nor energy are perfectly conserved. Mass isn't a conserved quantity at all: we can and do generate new mass all the time in particle accelerators. Energy isn't conserved in curved space-times, such as an expanding universe.
There are many conservation laws. I was pointing out that mass isn't one of them. Yes, particle accelerators obey the law of conservation of energy, because those experiments are performed in (approximately) flat space-time. And the small amount of curvature that is imposed by the Earth is easily handled by considering gravitational potential energy.Tim13 said:Really? It may seem like particle accelerators create matter but isn't it really just the transfer of energy? Doesn't the law of conservation allow for the transfer of energy to matter and vice versa?
d3mm said:What do you think of the zero energy universe hypothesis?
On the Zero-energy Universe
Marcelo Samuel Berman
http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0605063
The law of conservation, also known as the law of energy conservation, states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but can only be transformed from one form to another.
The big bang theory does not necessarily conflict with the law of conservation. It is a theory that describes the expansion of the universe and the origin of all matter and energy. While it does suggest that the universe began with a singularity, it does not necessarily violate the law of conservation as matter and energy can still be transformed in the process of the big bang.
No, it is not true. While there are some interpretations of the big bang theory that may suggest a violation of the law of conservation, the theory itself does not explicitly state this. It is important to understand that the big bang theory is a scientific theory that is constantly being refined and updated as new evidence is discovered.
Yes, the law of conservation applies to the entire universe. However, the law does not necessarily apply to the universe as a whole, as the universe is constantly expanding and changing. The law of conservation can be applied to individual systems within the universe, but not the universe as a whole.
There are some theories, such as the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics, that may challenge or alter our understanding of the law of conservation. However, these theories do not necessarily conflict with the law, but rather provide a deeper understanding of how energy and matter behave in different contexts.