What Was the Initial Energy of the Universe: Planck Energy or Singularity?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter liometopum
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Energy Universe
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the initial energy of the universe, exploring whether it was the Planck energy, a singularity, or potentially zero. Participants consider implications of these viewpoints in the context of cosmology and the beginning of the universe's expansion.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the initial energy could be the Planck energy, suggesting a finite amount of energy.
  • Others argue that a singularity implies an infinite amount of energy, raising questions about the nature of the universe's origin.
  • One participant humorously suggests that the initial energy could be zero, referencing Lawrence Krauss's perspective.
  • A participant notes that the initial singularity is often described as having infinite energy and matter, but questions whether this aligns with the concept of a universe emerging from nothing.
  • Another participant highlights that there is no unambiguous answer to the question of global energy in General Relativity, suggesting that the initial energy might be somewhere between small and zero, depending on definitions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the initial energy of the universe, with no consensus reached on a definitive answer.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the complexity of defining global energy in the framework of General Relativity, which may affect interpretations of the initial conditions of the universe.

liometopum
Messages
126
Reaction score
24
I am wondering what people here think the initial energy of the universe was.

The Planck energy? Implies a finite amount of energy
A Singularity? This implies an infinite amount of energy.
 
Space news on Phys.org
Zero? Implies that Lawrence Krauss is right.(:P)
 
Thanks Bandersnatch. I'd thought of listing that too, but it was my impression that at the moment the expansion started that at least a little something was there. My post was purposely vague though and left that idea fully available.
The initial singularity is often described as being of infinite energy and matter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initial_singularity
Infinite is infinite... it would not be a universe from nothing, if there was a singularity of infinite energy at the moment expansion started; all the energy is already there. I have heard lecturers state the universe started with a small amount of energy, quite contrary to an infinite amount. With two extremes, I wanted to hear input from forum members.
I guess I should define the starting condition I am thinking of, and that is the start of expansion.
 
liometopum said:
I am wondering what people here think the initial energy of the universe was.
Actually, there isn't an unambiguous answer to this question: global energy is not a well-defined quantity in General Relativity. Either way, the answer is probably somewhere between small and zero, depending upon how you define the global energy.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
4K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 38 ·
2
Replies
38
Views
6K
  • · Replies 134 ·
5
Replies
134
Views
12K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K