Symmetry of the Universe: Why Doesn't 0 = cba?

[toph.roshi]

Why is it that our universe isn't perfectly symmetric? To demonstrate imagine that the 0 is the center of the universe:

abc 0 cba

Why doesn't the universe look like this?

Why isn't there another me on the equally opposite side of the universe doing the same thing as I am right now?

 

[Chronos]

Symmetry is a matter of perspective. If the universe is, as it appears to be, homogeneous and isotropic that sounds pretty symmetric to me.

 

[Nabeshin]

Symmetry is a matter of perspective. If the universe is, as it appears to be, homogeneous and isotropic that sounds pretty symmetric to me.

Symmetry is also related to scale. As Chronos says, the universe is homogeneous and isotropic on scales ~100Mpc, and definitely not so on scales smaller than that. If the universe were completely homogeneous and isotropic, it would be impossible for any kind of structure to exist, so an anthropic argument will lead to the conclusion that the universe cannot be completely symmetric.

 

[DaveC426913]

Why is it that our universe isn't perfectly symmetric? To demonstrate imagine that the 0 is the center of the universe:

abc 0 cba

Why doesn't the universe look like this?

Why do you think it should? Please elaborate.

(Sounds like a question involving a Newtonian Deterministic Universe)

 

[pmacias]

I can say that the symmetry of the universe is a complex and fascinating topic that is still being studied and explored by scientists. While it may seem intuitive to imagine a perfectly symmetric universe with a mirror image of ourselves on the opposite side, the reality is that the universe is not perfectly symmetric.

One reason for this is the concept of entropy, which is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system. The second law of thermodynamics states that entropy always increases in a closed system, meaning that the universe as a whole is becoming more disordered over time. This increase in entropy can lead to asymmetry in the universe, as certain processes or events may occur more frequently in one direction than in another.

Another factor to consider is the concept of the Big Bang and the resulting expansion of the universe. The laws of physics dictate that the universe expands uniformly in all directions, but small fluctuations in the early universe led to the formation of galaxies, stars, and other structures that are not perfectly symmetric. This means that even if the universe started out symmetric, it has evolved into a state of asymmetry over billions of years.

It is also important to note that the concept of symmetry is relative and dependent on the observer's perspective. For example, from our human perspective, the universe may seem asymmetric, but on a larger scale, the universe may exhibit patterns and structures that are symmetric.

In summary, the lack of perfect symmetry in the universe is a result of various factors such as the increase in entropy, the effects of the Big Bang and expansion, and the relative nature of symmetry. Further research and exploration into these concepts may help us better understand the underlying principles that govern the universe and its asymmetry.