Time & Cosmology: Observing Past Quantities & Effects on Equations

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the implications of observing distant galaxies and the associated quantities, such as mass and speed, as they existed in the past. Participants explore how these past measurements affect cosmological equations and the understanding of the universe's expansion, particularly in relation to the Hubble constant and the acceleration of the universe.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that observing distant galaxies means measuring quantities from the past, which can change over time and affect cosmological equations.
  • Others argue that the speed of a galaxy, calculated using the Hubble law, reflects its recession rate at the time the light was emitted, not its current speed.
  • A participant questions whether the Hubble constant changes over time and how this impacts the recession rate of galaxies.
  • There is mention of the Hubble constant potentially not increasing in an accelerating universe, depending on the cosmological model being considered.
  • Some participants discuss the need to account for redshift and the proper distance when calculating recession rates.
  • One participant attempts to clarify their equations regarding the recession rate of a galaxy and seeks validation of their calculations.
  • There are corrections regarding the interpretation of distances and speeds, particularly in relation to gravitational effects on nearby galaxies.
  • Participants express uncertainty about the implications of their calculations and the complexities of cosmological concepts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally do not reach a consensus, as multiple competing views remain regarding the implications of observing past quantities and the behavior of the Hubble constant in different cosmological scenarios.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions highlight limitations in understanding the effects of redshift and the complexities involved in reconstructing past quantities from observed data. There are also unresolved mathematical steps related to the calculations of recession rates.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying cosmology, astrophysics, or anyone curious about the implications of observing distant astronomical objects and the dynamics of the universe's expansion.

Arman777
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I know that If we look further we seethe past...So we are measuring some quantities like a mass of a far galaxy or dark matter mass of a galaxy...All in general does this mean we are observing past quantities ?
These time dependent quantities can change with time so How this affect our Cosmological equations ?

And If there's an galaxy like a 2 million light years away ,the speed will be V=HD but it was 2 million years ago speed,so speed in right now will be much more faster.I tried to calculate it but I don't know its correct or not.
(I found for this example is ##V=H.1.23 Mpc##).Twice of the pre result.

Some ideas would be nice,

Thanks
 
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Arman777 said:
All in general does this mean we are observing past quantities ?

Yes.

Arman777 said:
If there's an galaxy like a 2 million light years away ,the speed will be V=HD but it was 2 million years ago speed,so speed in right now will be much more faster

Only if the expansion of the universe is accelerating. It is now, but before a few billion years ago it wasn't.
 
PeterDonis said:
Yes.
Only if the expansion of the universe is accelerating. It is now, but before a few billion years ago it wasn't.

Is my equation true ?, actually Hubble constant will also change..We think universe is accelerating.Right now, its acceleration is faster then the observable one then ?

And past quantities can lead wrong results ?

Is that mean couple billion years ago V(d)=constant ??
 
One thing to note is that the Hubble constant is not necessarily increasing in an accelerating universe. In a cosmological constant dominated universe, it goes to a constant. However, the distance to objects increases exponentially.
 
Arman777 said:
Is my equation true ?
Yes, we calculate the present recession rate of a galaxy by taking the present Hubble constant and multiply it by the comoving distance D.

If we want to know what the recession rate was when the light has left the galaxy, we have to calculate what the Hubble constant was then and multiply it by the comoving distance divided by (z+1), i.e. ##V_{rec}(t) = H(t) D/(z+1)##.

H(t) is obtained from the first Friedmann equation.
 
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Orodruin said:
One thing to note is that the Hubble constant is not necessarily increasing in an accelerating universe. In a cosmological constant dominated universe, it goes to a constant. However, the distance to objects increases exponentially.

There were some H-t graphs that I can remember,and in there H were constant.I understand now
 
Jorrie said:
Yes, we calculate the present recession rate of a galaxy by taking the present Hubble constant and multiply it by the comoving distance D.

If we want to know what the recession rate was when the light has left the galaxy, we have have to calculate what the Hubble constant was then and multiply it by the comoving distance divided by (z+1), i.e. ##V_{rec}(t) = H(t) D/(z+1)##.

H(t) is obtained from the first Friedmann equation.

I was meant ##V(D)=H.1.23Mpc## but 2 million years ago ##V(D)=H0.615Mpc## these two equatons are true ? First equation is the speed of a galaxy right now that we observe that its 2 million ly away.The other one is If we think 2 million ly is now.

In wiki says

D is proper distace (wiki is not a good source so I don't know https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubble's_law in the interpretation part )
hubbleslaw_plot.jpg


Here let's suppose there's a galaxy ##10^6## parsec away.But we know that It was there ##3.3.10^6## years ago.(##10^6 pc=3.2 10^6 ly##)So by now the distance of it must be a much more higher and from there the ##V(D)## must be much more higher.I tried to calculate it but I am not sure for my result.

If ##3.3.10^6## year ago the speed was ##500\frac {km} {pc}##.So after ##3.2 10^6## year later from now we will see the real ##V(D)## which that corresponds to ##2.10^6## pc so simply ;
If we observe an object at its distance is ##10^6## pc from us its speed is not ##500\frac {km} {pc}## but its ##1000\frac {km} {pc}##
 
Arman777 said:
I was meant ##V(D)=H.1.23Mpc## but 2 million years ago ##V(D)=H0.615Mpc## these two equatons are true ? First equation is the speed of a galaxy right now that we observe that its 2 million ly away.The other one is If we think 2 million ly is now
You should write the equations more clearly, e.g. did you mean ##V(D) = H_0 D## where D=1.23 Mpc? Do not use decimal points to indicate multiplication.

The chart that you have shown seems to be the original Edwin Hubble result, which was about a factor 7 off the scale of today's Ho. But the point to take out of it is that it was a linear relationship and it is linear for any present proper (i.e. comoving) distance. And V(D) is the present recession rate, not the recession rate when the light has left the galaxy.

I do not understand what you are asking in your last paragraph, e.g. what is ##500 \frac{km}{pc}##?
 
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Lets forget everything.

Lets suppose there s a galaxy, ##10^6 ly## away from us ? Whats the ##V(D)=?##
This is the question.

So we can say the distance from us is ##1ly=0.30 Mpc## and so ##V=HD## so ##V=0.30H##
But galaxy had ## 0.30H## speed, ##10^6## years ago not now,so the current speed will be,
##V=0.60H##
 
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  • #10
Arman777 said:
Lets forget everything.

Lets suppose there s a galaxy.##10^6 ly## away from us ? Whats the V(D)= ?
This is the question.

So we can say the distance from us is ##1ly=0.30 Mpc## and so ##V=HD## so ##V=0.30H##
But galaxy had ## 0.30H## speed, ##10^6## yeears ago not now,so the current speed will be,
##V=0.60H##

First, ##1## light-year is about ##0.3## parsecs (not Mega Parsecs).

Second, the Andromeda Galaxy is about ##2 \times 10^6## light-years away, but that is gravitationally bound to us. I.e. it's moving towards us. To take away the effects of gravity, you would have to consider galaxies at much greater distances.

You probably should read this Insight on the expanding universe:

https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/inflationary-misconceptions-basics-cosmological-horizons/
 
  • #11
I ll ask my prof thanks all
 
  • #12
PeroK said:
First, 111 light-year is about 0.30.30.3 parsecs (not Mega Parsecs).
I made a typo in there it would be 10^6
PeroK said:
Second, the Andromeda Galaxy is about 2×1062×1062 \times 10^6 light-years away, but that is gravitationally bound to us. I.e. it's moving towards us. To take away the effects of gravity, you would have to consider galaxies at much greater distances.
It was just an example to illustrate my example.

My explanation is not enough clear I guess
 
  • #13
Arman777 said:
Lets forget everything.

Lets suppose there s a galaxy, ##10^6 ly## away from us ? Whats the ##V(D)=?##
This is the question.

OK, let's start over and change your scale to: "Lets suppose there is a galaxy, ##D=10^3## Mpc (i.e. 1 Gpc) away from us ? Whats the ##V(D)##?

Easy: ##V(D) = H_0 D = 68 \times 10^3## km/s, or 0.226c

This is the recession rate now, not when the light has left the galaxy. See my post (#5) above.
 
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  • #14
Jorrie said:
OK, let's start over and change your scale to: "Lets suppose there is a galaxy, ##D=10^3## Mpc (i.e. 1 Gpc) away from us ? Whats the ##V(D)##?

Easy: ##V(D) = H_0 D = 68 \times 10^3## km/s, or 0.226c

This is the recession rate now, not when the light has left the galaxy. See my post (#5) above.

I see know...
 
  • #15
It is helpful to remember we can only observe the effects of redshift on light when it was emitted and during its long journey to our detectors. Reconstructing these effects can be a complicated process.
 
  • #16
Just I thought something...but I don't know cosmology..They are complicated yeah..
 

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