Zegnarfol said:The two possibilities generally presented on the expansion of the universe is that either the universe will continue to expand, or it will eventually cease expansion and compress back to a singularity. Is there a third possibility?
Has anyone presented a coherent idea that allows for the expansion to cease, and not then necessarily compress?
"Universal expansion reaching a point of equilibrium" refers to the theory that the universe is constantly expanding, but will eventually reach a state of balance where the expansion and contraction forces are equal.
The equilibrium point is determined by the amount of matter and energy in the universe, as well as the force of gravity. As the universe expands, the amount of matter and energy decreases, while the force of gravity remains constant. Eventually, the two forces will balance out and the expansion will slow down.
No, the universe will continue to expand at a slower rate. The equilibrium point simply marks a balance between contraction and expansion forces, but does not mean that the universe will stop expanding altogether.
One of the main pieces of evidence is the observation of redshift in distant galaxies. This is the result of the expansion of the universe causing the light from these galaxies to stretch, making it appear redder. Additionally, the cosmic microwave background radiation, which is leftover radiation from the Big Bang, also supports the idea of universal expansion.
While the theory of universal expansion reaching a point of equilibrium is widely accepted, it is not a guaranteed outcome. The universe is a complex and constantly changing system, so it is possible that other factors or forces could impact the expansion and prevent the universe from reaching this equilibrium point.