Theoretical physicist says universe has radius=10cm

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers around a claim made in Ian Stewart's "Concepts of Modern Mathematics" regarding a theoretical physicist's deduction of the universe's radius being 10 centimeters. Participants express skepticism about the validity of this claim and question the identity of the physicist. The consensus suggests that the 10cm measurement likely refers to the size of the universe immediately after inflation, rather than at the Big Bang. The lack of specific references to the physicist and relevant papers is noted as a significant oversight.

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  • Familiarity with theoretical physics and mathematical modeling.
  • Knowledge of the historical context of cosmology, particularly pre-1975 theories.
  • Ability to analyze scientific literature and claims critically.
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  • Research the concept of cosmic inflation and its implications for the observable universe.
  • Investigate the historical development of cosmological theories post-1975.
  • Explore the mathematical models used in theoretical physics to describe the universe's size.
  • Examine the significance of the 10cm measurement in the context of early universe theories.
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Students of theoretical physics, cosmologists, and anyone interested in the foundational concepts of the universe's size and structure.

Tweak88
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Hello everyone.
I was just reading Ian Stewart's "Concepts of Modern Mathematics". In the end of the first chapter he writes


A certain theoretical physicist secured himself a mighty reputation on the basis of his deduction, on very general mathematical grounds, of a formula for the radius of the universe [...] It was several years before anybody had enough curiosity to substitute the numbers in it and work out the answer. Ten centimeters."


This seems quite the fluke. Is this actually true? Can you tell me who this "certain theoretical physicist" is/was?



Cheers
 
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He should have asked for help from Physics Forums before going to press. It would have saved him a lot of embarrassment.
 
For very large definitions of "centimeter"
 
Or very small definitions of universe :P
 
The author couldn't be bothered to actually give the name of this certain someone and the papers involved?
 
Paradox. ?
 
via mathematical approach* quite possible!
 
Born2bwire said:
The author couldn't be bothered to actually give the name of this certain someone and the papers involved?

No, they author didn't bother. That's why I posted this, I am curious about it.
 
Thats why physics is awesome. There is obviously still stuff to work out!
 
  • #10
  • #11
champu123 said:
I think by 10cm, he means that the size of universe at the time of big bang i.e. if everything in the universe was tightly packed and compressed into one ball, it'd be a 10cm ball... Balls!

See this link: http://van.physics.illinois.edu/qa/listing.php?id=1125

Note that they are talking about the size of the observable universe right after inflation, not at the big bang.
 
  • #12
Tweak88 said:
No, the author didn't bother. That's why I posted this, I am curious about it.
As the book from which the 10cm quote came was published in 1975, I wouldn't take very seriously any envelope-pushing claims it makes.
 

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