What's the fastest space pulls apart from itself?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of objects moving faster than the speed of light in the context of physics and the expansion of space. The participants mention that there is no limit on the speed of expansion and it was very rapid in the early universe. They also mention that, based on current observations, the limit could potentially be 1000 times the speed of light.
  • #1
Chaos' lil bro Order
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Physics says no object moves faster than C. Physics allows for space itself, as the substrate for objects, to expand faster than C. My question is how much faster? 2 or 3 times C?

ty.
 
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  • #2
I don't think there's a limit. Theoretically you could crank the dark energy "parameter" up on a hypothetical universe, and get it to expand infinitely fast.
 
  • #3
Ok, but given observation isn't there a current observed limit. If I recall correctly, any two objects separated by a distance corresponding to a redshift of z=1.6 are moving away from one another at C. So what about objects at z=7 and up?
 
  • #4
Inflation is the best example, we're talking speed that makes most science fiction look weak by comparison.
 
  • #5
There is no effective limit on the pace of expansion. It appears to have been very rapid in the early universe. Bear in mind, however, this assumes the redshift-distance relationship is valid [which is a fairly safe assumption].
 
  • #6
Chronos said:
There is no effective limit on the pace of expansion. It appears to have been very rapid in the early universe. Bear in mind, however, this assumes the redshift-distance relationship is valid [which is a fairly safe assumption].

Chronos, what limit would you guesstimate based on current observations?
 
  • #7
1000x speed of light.
 

1. What is the fastest known expanding object in space?

The fastest known expanding object in space is a type of star explosion called a gamma-ray burst. These bursts can travel at speeds close to the speed of light, making them the fastest known objects in the universe.

2. How fast does the universe itself expand?

The rate of expansion of the universe is known as the Hubble constant and is currently estimated to be around 73 kilometers per second per megaparsec. This means that for every additional megaparsec (a unit of distance equal to about 3.26 million light-years), the universe expands by 73 kilometers per second.

3. Can anything travel faster than the speed of light in space?

According to the theory of relativity, nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. This means that even if space itself is expanding, no object or particle can move through space faster than the speed of light.

4. How does the expansion of space affect objects within it?

The expansion of space does not directly affect objects within it. This is because the expansion of space is happening on such a large scale that it is not noticeable on smaller scales, such as within our own solar system. However, on a larger scale, the expansion of space can affect the distance between galaxies and the rate at which they move away from each other.

5. Could the expansion of space eventually cause objects to break apart?

No, the expansion of space does not cause objects to break apart. This is because the force that holds objects together, such as gravity, is much stronger than the force of expansion. However, if the expansion of space were to accelerate significantly, it could potentially cause objects to move apart at a faster rate, making them appear to be pulling apart.

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