Is Cosmological Inflation the reason for the uniformity of the universe?

  • Thread starter Dav333
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Random
In summary: But general relativity allows for space itself to expand faster than light, as long as matter is not moving faster than light. This is what happened during the period of inflation, and the expansion of the universe has slowed down since then. However, the expansion of the universe is still accelerating, which may be due to dark energy. In summary, the conversation covers various topics such as the expansion of the universe after the Big Bang, the behavior of light in a closed room, the size of a particle accelerator needed to probe the smallest scales of the universe, the concept of the cat in the box experiment, and ways to create a homemade version of the double slit experiment. The main takeaway is that the universe can expand faster than the speed of
  • #1
Dav333
91
0
Some Random questions (please help)

If its ok, I have 5 random questions Id like answered. I’ve thought about these for some time. hope its ok.

1) I read that 10-33 seconds after the Big Bang, the Universe went from the size of 100's of billionths of an atom to 100million LY across within 10-32seconds? Is this remotely true?

2) Were does all the light go when you turn off the light in a closed room? I heard it recoils to a different wavelength? Would it still be bouncing all around the room, & we just can’t see it?

3) I read to probe into the smallest scales of on the universe, a particle accelerator the size of the galaxy would be needed. Why is this?

4) With the cat in the box experiment, would the very objects in the box (cat) interfere with the experiment causing the wave function of the cats life to collapse straight away?

5) Is there anyway to make a home made version of the double slit expeirment? I would love to show some ppl. But wouldn't no were to begin.


Please excuse my lack of knowledge. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Dav333 said:
1) I read that 10-33 seconds after the Big Bang, the Universe went from the size of 100's of billionths of an atom to 100million LY across within 10-32seconds? Is this remotely true?
I think by 10 seconds the universe was large than an atom, but the inflationary phase when it went from pretty small to very-very big is probably correct.

2) Were does all the light go when you turn off the light in a closed room? I heard it recoils to a different wavelength? Would it still be bouncing all around the room, & we just can’t see it?
The light is absorbed by the walls and anything else in the room, it heats them up slightly and they emit a longer wavelength (infrared) photon - whether this is the 'same' light is a bit philosophical.

3) I read to probe into the smallest scales of on the universe, a particle accelerator the size of the galaxy would be needed. Why is this?
Basically the smaller scale -> higher energy -> larger size.
One interesting take is that since the limit is an accelerator the size of the universe, and since the universe is expanding - we had better start building it now before the price goes up!

4) With the cat in the box experiment, would the very objects in the box (cat) interfere with the experiment causing the wave function of the cats life to collapse straight away?
From a cat lovers point of view - the cat is a perfectly good observer!
The point of the experimeent wasn't to kill cats - it was to point out that quantum effects (the decay of a particle) had real world consquences not knowing if the cat was alive or dead.
It was to overcome objections to quantum mechanics that it all happened on very small scales and wasn't real-world.

5) Is there anyway to make a home made version of the double slit expeirment? I would love to show some ppl. But wouldn't no were to begin.

this describes a setup http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/r/e/ref7/apparatus/2003 competition/wonnel-DA-LC.htm
Personally I found an easier way to make the slit is to put a hair between two razor blades and use a laser pointer.
 
Last edited:
  • #3
mgb_phys said:
since the universe is expanding - we had better start building it now before the price goes up!

:rofl::rofl:
Going for the ribbon this year, Mgb? :biggrin:
 
  • #4
This is one of the few places where people 'get' my sense of humour - that's probably very worrying!
 
  • #5
You should be worried; the volcano is waiting...
 
  • #6
Dav333 said:
If its ok, I have 5 random questions Id like answered. I’ve thought about these for some time. hope its ok.

1) I read that 10-33 seconds after the Big Bang, the Universe went from the size of 100's of billionths of an atom to 100million LY across within 10-32seconds? Is this remotely true?

2) Were does all the light go when you turn off the light in a closed room? I heard it recoils to a different wavelength? Would it still be bouncing all around the room, & we just can’t see it?

3) I read to probe into the smallest scales of on the universe, a particle accelerator the size of the galaxy would be needed. Why is this?

4) With the cat in the box experiment, would the very objects in the box (cat) interfere with the experiment causing the wave function of the cats life to collapse straight away?

5) Is there anyway to make a home made version of the double slit expeirment? I would love to show some ppl. But wouldn't no were to begin.


Please excuse my lack of knowledge. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.


How could the universe grow to a distance greater than c x time in the given time ? 30 seconds should yield 30 light-seconds ? 'splain it to me, lucy
 
  • #7
regor60 said:
How could the universe grow to a distance greater than c x time in the given time ? 30 seconds should yield 30 light-seconds ? 'splain it to me, lucy

The universe can expand faster than the speed of light (and almost certainly did)
Relativity just says information cannot travel faster than light and so you can no longer observe the part of the universe outside your observable sphere.
 
  • #8
mgb_phys said:
The universe can expand faster than the speed of light (and almost certainly did)
Relativity just says information cannot travel faster than light and so you can no longer observe the part of the universe outside your observable sphere.

OK. What is the physics that describes that ?
 
  • #9
Cosmological inflation is the theory that the universe expanded rapidly - it explains why the microwave background and distribution of galaxies is so uniform.

Special relativity says that you can't send information faster than light.
 

1. What is the purpose of "Some Random questions ( )"?

The purpose of "Some Random questions ( )" is to provide a platform for users to ask and answer a variety of random questions on any topic.

2. How does "Some Random questions ( )" work?

"Some Random questions ( )" works by allowing users to submit questions and receive answers from other users. Users can also upvote or downvote questions and answers, and the most popular questions will be featured on the site.

3. Is "Some Random questions ( )" a reliable source of information?

No, "Some Random questions ( )" is not a reliable source of information. The questions and answers on the site are user-generated and may not be thoroughly researched or fact-checked. It is always best to verify information from multiple sources.

4. Can I ask any type of question on "Some Random questions ( )"?

Yes, you can ask any type of question on "Some Random questions ( )". However, please ensure that your question follows the site's guidelines and is appropriate for all ages.

5. How can I contribute to "Some Random questions ( )"?

You can contribute to "Some Random questions ( )" by submitting questions, answering questions, and upvoting or downvoting questions and answers. You can also report any inappropriate content or provide feedback to the site's moderators.

Similar threads

  • Cosmology
Replies
4
Views
1K
Replies
58
Views
4K
Replies
9
Views
1K
  • Quantum Interpretations and Foundations
3
Replies
76
Views
7K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
15
Views
315
Replies
16
Views
2K
  • Quantum Interpretations and Foundations
Replies
12
Views
887
  • Quantum Physics
3
Replies
88
Views
6K
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
7
Views
2K
Back
Top