Question: What is the Universe Expanding Into?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the concept of the universe's expansion and the nature of space itself. Participants assert that the universe is not expanding into anything; rather, it is the distances between galaxies that increase over time. The conversation also touches on the implications of singularities, particularly in relation to black holes and the Big Bang, emphasizing that these points represent undefined states in time and space. Theories such as "tired light" and the philosophical implications of time and observation are debated, highlighting the complexities of understanding cosmological phenomena.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of general relativity and its implications on time and space.
  • Familiarity with cosmological concepts such as the Big Bang and singularities.
  • Knowledge of the "tired light" theory and its critiques.
  • Basic grasp of philosophical concepts related to observation and uncertainty in physics.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of general relativity on time dilation near singularities.
  • Explore the standard model of cosmology and its observations regarding the universe's expansion.
  • Investigate the criticisms of the "tired light" theory and its relevance to cosmology.
  • Study the philosophical implications of the observer effect in quantum mechanics.
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, physicists, cosmologists, and anyone interested in the fundamental nature of the universe and the philosophical questions surrounding time and space.

  • #31
bill alsept said:
You are right I was looking at it from an outsiders point of view and I realize ones on time frame would be normal. I just ment that a singularity as in a large mass could cause time changing characteristics.

What do you mean by time changing charecteristics? Are you just paraphrasing gravitational time dilation or do you have a different meaning?
 
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  • #32
Cosmo Novice said:
What do you mean by time changing charecteristics? Are you just paraphrasing gravitational time dilation or do you have a different meaning?

As in post #9 above
 
  • #33
bill alsept said:
As in post #9 above

Phind's post is describing normal time dilation. It's less confusing if you just use that term instead of "time changing characteristics". :biggrin:
 
  • #34
Drakkith said:
Phind's post is describing normal time dilation. It's less confusing if you just use that term instead of "time changing characteristics". :biggrin:

Thats where I got the term from. I didn't come up with it. Thats why I was asking.
 
  • #35
bill alsept said:
Thats where I got the term from. I didn't come up with it. Thats why I was asking.

Hmm. I've never heard of it before. My mistake.
 
  • #36
As has already been pointed out previously in this thread by contributors...the physics describing our Universe does NOT allow, nor require another "hyper" dimension in which it expands. The curvature of our Universe is an intrinsic property, and does not require higher dimensions (again, as has already been noted).

The simplest and most succinct explanation, IMHO, comes courtesy of Proffessor Edward Harrison. "The Universe contains both Space and Time, and does NOT exist in Space and Time". In other words, our Universe contains everything that is physical, and nothing that is non-physical. Space and Time are physical constructs that exist within our Universe.

Also, in accordance to the Location Principle, as well as the Containment Principle and the Cosmological Principle, there is no boundary or "edge" to our Universe. The expansion of our Universe (change in Scale factor) is an intrinsic property, and is "self-contained" and self-consistent. Since our Universe contains all of "Space", there is no "external" space within which the Universe expands into. Instead, our Universe consists of expanding space.
 

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