Is Infinity Plausible in the Universe?

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In summary, the concept of infinity often arises in physics, but there is evidence that suggests that neither the universe's density, mass, nor size can be infinite. This is due to the fact that the universe is constantly expanding and cannot grow from infinity to "more-than-infinite". This also applies to numbers, as even in an infinitely large universe, there would still be an upper limit to the numbers that can be represented. Additionally, the idea of conventional superconductivity and van Hove singularities can be better understood without invoking the concept of infinity. Therefore, the use of infinities in physics may not always be logical or necessary.
  • #1
Lightning-Rod
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Hello. The word "infinity" often comes up in physics, but observational evidence seems to preclude any form of infinity whatsoever: either everything must be infinite, or nothing can be infinite.

My line of thought comes from the fact that the density of our universe is not infinite. Therefore, the mass of our universe cannot be infinite either. Then, the size of the universe cannot be infinite either, since it's been growing ever since the beginning of time and you can't grow from "infinite" to "more-than-infinite", can you?

Indeed, even numbers themselves would be finite: if you made each and every elementary particle in the universe represent one bit of information, there would still be an upper limit to the numbers that could be represented by such a computing system. Since no higher numbers could possibly exist in the universe, it effectively makes numbers finite.

Is my reasoning correct or flawed?
 
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  • #2
Why does it follow that if the universe doesn't have infinite density that it doesn't have infinite mass?

If the universe is infinite in spatial extent and contains infinite mass that says nothing about what the density should be.
 
  • #3
pergradus said:
Why does it follow that if the universe doesn't have infinite density that it doesn't have infinite mass?
Because if mass were infinite, you would have enough of it to fill every nook and cranny of the universe, no matter how big the universe was. Otherwise, it would mean that mass is "less infinite" than space.
 
  • #4
Could you describe the density of states in conventional superconductivity, please? And try to do that without invoking any "infinity" at the superconducting gap edge.

If you can't do that, move on to the van Hove singularity that's present in the phonon density of states of the common materials that you use in your modern electronics.

Zz.
 
  • #5
Lightning-Rod said:
Because if mass were infinite, you would have enough of it to fill every nook and cranny of the universe, no matter how big the universe was. Otherwise, it would mean that mass is "less infinite" than space.

and the same argument can go the other way - if the universe were infinite in size, you could always spread the mass around thinner and thinner no matter how much mass there was.

See why infinities usually don't make any sense?
 

1. What is the concept of infinity?

The concept of infinity refers to the idea of something being limitless or without boundaries. It is a mathematical and philosophical concept that has been debated for centuries.

2. Is infinity a real or abstract concept?

This is a debatable question and has been a topic of discussion in the philosophical community. Some argue that infinity is a purely abstract concept, while others believe that it exists in the physical world, such as in the infinite nature of the universe.

3. How is infinity used in mathematics?

In mathematics, infinity is used to represent a value that is greater than any number. It is often used in calculus, geometry, and other branches of mathematics to express concepts such as limits, infinite series, and infinite sets.

4. Can infinity be proven or disproven?

Infinity is a concept that cannot be proven or disproven in the same way that other mathematical or scientific theories can be. It is more of a philosophical concept than a scientific one, and therefore, it cannot be tested or proven with empirical evidence.

5. What are some real-world examples of infinity?

Some real-world examples of infinity include the infinite expansion of the universe, the infinite divisibility of numbers, and the infinite nature of time. It is also commonly used in practical applications such as computer science, where infinite loops are used in coding.

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