Standard candles in a stretching fabric of space

In summary, the conversation discusses the potential effects of the accelerating expansion of the universe on the measured redshift of light emitted by distant objects. This is due to the light traveling through an expanding fabric of space, similar to traveling through a stretching rubber band. The conversation also touches on the challenge of separating the effects of the expansion from other motions of standard candles, such as their host galaxies' gravitational attraction and rotational motions. This introduces uncertainty in distance calculations and is a challenge for researchers.
  • #1
Rebbyte
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I'm just trying to figure somethings out concerning the accelerating expansion of the universe and the measured redshift, etc.

If a light emitting object moves away from us, because of the expansion of the universe, the speed of that object causes a redshift in this light. But this light, from the time it is emitted to the time it is received, also travels through an expanding fabric of space. Like if it travels through a stretching rubber band. This will also cause a extra redshift. So long distance objects will appear to be accelerating away.
Since the expansion of the universe stretches the rubber band, the traveled path will also be longer than only causing by the movement of that object.
How is this been accounted for in the measurements and formulas for the use of standard candles?
 
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  • #2
Rebbyte said:
If a light emitting object moves away from us, because of the expansion of the universe, the speed of that object causes a redshift in this light. But this light, from the time it is emitted to the time it is received, also travels through an expanding fabric of space. Like if it travels through a stretching rubber band. This will also cause a extra redshift.
This is the same thing. Specifically, the recession velocity of the observed object at emission alone does not cause its redshift. It's the accumulated Doppler redshift between infinitesimal point to point distances along the path of light that we observe. So that the expansion history matters, not just the state at emission.

Rebbyte said:
So long distance objects will appear to be accelerating away.
This does not follow. The exact same thing happens regardless of whether the expansion is accelerating or not.

Rebbyte said:
How is this been accounted for in the measurements and formulas for the use of standard candles?
This is not straightforward. Take a look at this Wiki page (and the sub-pages for various distances):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distance_measures_(cosmology)
 
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Rebbyte said:
Since the expansion of the universe stretches ...the traveled path will also be longer than that only caused by the movement of that object.
That's a very astute observation! In fact it's a big problem for astronomers to be able to separate the what's called "peculiar" motions of the standard candles from their cosmological ones due to the expansion of the universe. These peculiar motions include the motions of their host galaxies due to the gravitational attraction of the clusters they're in, and their rotational motions within their host galaxies. These motions cause a statistical scatter that introduces uncertainty in the calculation of their distances, and is a bane to researchers!
 
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1. What are standard candles in a stretching fabric of space?

Standard candles are objects in the universe that have a known and consistent brightness. They are used as a standard to measure distances in space, similar to using a ruler to measure length. In a stretching fabric of space, the distance between objects can change due to the expansion of the universe, making standard candles a useful tool for measuring these distances.

2. How do standard candles work?

Standard candles work by using the known brightness of an object to determine its distance from Earth. By comparing the observed brightness of the object to its known brightness, scientists can calculate the distance based on how much the light has dimmed over the distance it has traveled through space.

3. What types of objects can be used as standard candles?

There are several types of objects that can be used as standard candles, including Cepheid variable stars, Type Ia supernovae, and certain types of galaxies. These objects have a consistent and predictable brightness, making them useful for measuring distances in space.

4. How accurate are standard candles in measuring distances in space?

The accuracy of standard candles depends on the type of object being used and the distance being measured. Generally, they are accurate within a few percent, which is impressive considering the vast distances being measured. However, there can be some uncertainties and variations that need to be taken into account when using standard candles.

5. Why are standard candles important in astronomy?

Standard candles are important in astronomy because they allow scientists to measure distances in the universe, which is crucial for understanding the size and structure of the universe. They also help us to determine the rate of expansion of the universe, which can provide insights into its past and future evolution.

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