Share Your Thoughts: An Idea to Consider

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of spacetime in the context of an expanding universe, specifically examining the implications of Einstein's equations and the behavior of matter at different scales. Participants explore theoretical models, including FLRW and Schwarzschild solutions, and their relevance to cosmic expansion and local gravitational effects.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the FLRW solutions describe an expanding universe but notes that these solutions only approximate homogeneity and isotropy at large scales, with other solutions being more appropriate at smaller scales.
  • It is proposed that the most accurate solution near massive bodies like the sun may resemble a combination of Schwarzschild and FLRW solutions, indicating a local expansion that is significantly smaller than cosmological expansion.
  • Another participant raises the idea that if objects are bound by forces, those forces may counteract the effects of expansion, pulling the objects together.
  • A participant mentions the expansion of the universe affecting massless particles, such as photons, and references Hubble's discovery regarding the expansion of wavelengths.
  • There is a question posed about whether redshift is related to the stretching of photon wavelengths, leading to a lower frequency and a shift towards the red end of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of cosmic expansion for bound systems and the behavior of massless versus massive particles. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the extent to which local forces counteract cosmic expansion and the interpretation of redshift.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the complexity of Einstein's equations and the non-linear nature of spacetime solutions, which may limit the applicability of certain models at different scales. There are also uncertainties regarding the behavior of massive particles in the context of cosmic expansion.

filegraphy
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This really is just an idea, but I want to hear what you think.
 
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The solutions of Einstein's equation that describe an expanding universe are the same ones that describe a universe in which matter is distributed homogeneously and isotropically. (FLRW solutions). The universe is only approximately homogeneous and isotropic at scales much larger than galaxies. At smaller scales, spacetime is much better described by other solutions. For example, near the sun, spacetime is approximately a Schwarzschild solution, in which there is no expansion.

Since Einstein's equation isn't linear, we can't just add these solutions to get the correct one, but I think we can expect the most accurate solution that describes spacetime near the sun to be a lot like Schwarzschild and a little bit like FLRW, with a local expansion that's non-zero, but many, many orders of magnitude smaller than the cosmological expansion (what the FLRW solution predicts).

So never mind elementary particles. Even galaxies (which contain hundreds of billions of stars) are too small for expansion to be relevant.
 


In that is non-zero that can mean that the objects are expanding. Thanks it is more clear now.
 


But if they are bound then I think the forces just pull the object back together.
 


Hi, filegraphy.
Yes, for massless particles e.g. photon. The expansion of universe cause expansion of wave length of photon as Hubble discovered. I am not sure of it for particles with mass.
Regards.
 


Is that what red shift is? When the photon wave is stretched out, causing it to have a lower frequency. This causing the waves in the electromagnetic spectrum to be moving towards the red side. Or am I mistaken? Thank you for your help also.
 

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