What Causes the Big Crunch and How Does it Affect the Universe's Expansion?

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The discussion centers on the Big Crunch theory, exploring whether it involves the contraction of space itself or merely gravitational attraction among galaxies. Participants clarify that the universe's expansion is driven by dark energy, while gravity could potentially reverse this expansion, leading to a contraction. The conversation also touches on the symmetry between expansion and contraction, questioning how gravity interacts with space and matter during such processes. There is a consensus that if contraction occurs, space would contract along with matter, though the exact mechanics remain complex and not fully understood. Overall, the dialogue highlights the ongoing inquiry into the universe's dynamics and the nature of dark energy and gravity.
  • #31
To put it quite simply, if we assume that the Big Bang concept is correct, then space (and time) were created as a result of it. Space isn't a separate entity that simply is "out there". Space is a function of mass. Without the Big Bang, there is no space. Without mass, there is no space. Therefore, if one wants to postulate a "big crunch", it has to include the elimination of everything, mass, space, energy...everything.
 
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  • #32
Naty1 said:
note that frame dragging IS a theoretical phenomena; do not know if there is any experimental/obserbational evidence...
Hmm looks like there is some evidence for it after all.Have a look at the below link.
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/1997/blackholes.html"


Naty1 said:
too much speculation here...but the potential could, I guess, exist for everything to eventually end up as black holes, and over eons those smaller ones coalesce together...but as I understand things, that still doesn't collapse all space in the universe into a crunch from what is currently known...

On the other hand things/views/theories/insights change so I never say never...
i know but that it sounded good(it still does) when i first thought of it.thanks anyway
 
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  • #33
LBrandt said:
Space isn't a separate entity that simply is "out there". Space is a function of mass.

While I don't disagree with anything else you said, the above does not follow. You went from space to mass.
 
  • #34
Excellent name for a candy bar...on that I'm sure we all agree.
 
  • #35
Space without 'space' is illogical to me. I fail to see how 'quantum fluctuations' can arise in the absence of 'space'. I'm a fan, but, not a huge fan of 'creation ex nihilo'. But 'eternal space' is not a satisfactory alternative. There must be a better alternative.
 
  • #36
Sri...good find from MIT:

They showed that the matter's orbit in the accretion disk would wobble, much as a child's top wobbles when it slows down. The frequency at which it would wobble, based on their calculations, turned out to be the same frequency as the actual oscillations in intensity of the x-ray emissions previously measured by other researchers. They theorized that this wobble is evidence of frame-dragging, because the matter's orbit can only wobble if the space and time in which it exists are being dragged.

a possible verification of frame dragging?? So they think...
 
  • #37
Maybe the accretion disk is the gamma rays burst in young galaxies...
 

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