Why isn't the pull of gravity neutral on large scales?

[rede96]

I'm only an interested layman so please forgive my lack of knowledge but assuming the universe is flat, infinite and the cosmological principle holds then why wouldn't the attractive force between galaxies cancel out?

If I think of a 2d analogy such as the surface of a sphere, and there were galaxies spread evenly on the surface, then geometrically speaking it would be impossible for everything to move towards each other (or away from each other) unless the size of the 3D sphere changed with time.

So does the fact that gravity and indeed dark energy produce the results observed mean we must live in a 4 dimensional spatial universe? Or is it correct to view space time as that extra spatial dimension?

 

[phinds]

I'm only an interested layman so please forgive my lack of knowledge but assuming the universe is flat, infinite and the cosmological principle holds then why wouldn't the attractive force between galaxies cancel out?

What makes you think they don't?

If I think of a 2d analogy such as the surface of a sphere, and there were galaxies spread evenly on the surface, then geometrically speaking it would be impossible for everything to move towards each other (or away from each other) unless the size of the 3D sphere changed with time.

Yes, so? It DOES change with time. See the link in my signature.

So does the fact that gravity and indeed dark energy produce the results observed mean we must live in a 4 dimensional spatial universe?

Absolutely not. Why would it?

Or is it correct to view space time as that extra spatial dimension?

What extra dimension? None is needed.

 

[Drakkith]

The key is that matter is not distributed uniformly on a local scale. If one piece of matter is even slightly closer to one of its neighbors than to the others, then it will feel a net force in that direction and will accelerate. And it turns out that such non-uniformity definitely existed in the early universe, as all matter existed as an extremely hot, extremely dense plasma.

 

[Drakkith]

What makes you think they don't?

Gravity isn't canceled. Otherwise galaxies wouldn't form, let alone galaxy clusters and superclusters.

 

[rede96]

What makes you think they don't.

Newtons theorem. I couldn't understand how it could ignore the effects of gravity outside the shell.

 

[rede96]

The key is that matter is not distributed uniformly on a local scale. If one piece of matter is even slightly closer to one of its neighbors than to the others, then it will feel a net force in that direction and will accelerate. And it turns out that such non-uniformity definitely existed in the early universe, as all matter existed as an extremely hot, extremely dense plasma.

Yes I sort of understand that. But as mentioned above I still can grasp how Newtons theorem would work, as wouldn't it have to be based on matter not being uniformity spread, not an isotopic and homogeneous universe as used in the FRW equation?

 

[Drakkith]

Yes I sort of understand that. But as mentioned above I still can grasp how Newtons theorem would work, as wouldn't it have to be based on matter not being uniformity spread, not an isotopic and homogeneous universe as used in the FRW equation?

Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you're asking. Are you asking why galaxies are attracted to each other, how the universe can expand, or something else?

 

[phinds]

Gravity isn't canceled. Otherwise galaxies wouldn't form, let alone galaxy clusters and superclusters.

Right. "locally" (on cosmological scales) things are lumpy, but overall they are smooth (the Cosmological Principle) and the Milky Way isn't being moved in anyone direction by anything other than the Local Group, right?

 

[Drakkith]

Right. "locally" (on cosmological scales) things are lumpy, but overall they are smooth (the Cosmological Principle) and the Milky Way isn't being moved in anyone direction by anything other than the Local Group, right?

That's right. Our galaxy is under the influence of gravity from the local group, the virgo cluster and supercluster, and possible a larger structure, but once you get beyond that scale the universe has started to look very smooth and gravity starts to "cancel out".

 

[rede96]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you're asking. Are you asking why galaxies are attracted to each other, how the universe can expand, or something else?

Yes, exactly. I can understand how locally things aren't uniform so there could be a strong attraction in a particular direction. That even makes sense on much larger scales, as I would imagine there would always be variation (as per quantum physics). But on larger scales, assuming the cosmological principle then I'm struggling to understand how the universe would 'contract' due to gravity, which is the assumption used in the FRW equation as I understand it.

 

[Drakkith]

I'm sorry, @phinds, I may have misunderstood your earlier post. Can we chalk it up to fatigue? I'm actually up way too late and should probably go to bed.

But on larger scales, assuming the cosmological principle then I'm struggling to understand how the universe would 'contract' due to gravity, which is the assumption used in the FRW equation as I understand it.

Oh, I see what you're asking. Unfortunately I'm not an expert on General Relativity, so I can't really answer this.

 

[phinds]

I'm sorry, @phinds, I may have misunderstood your earlier post. Can we chalk it up to fatigue? I'm actually up way too late and should probably go to bed.

No problem.

 

[phinds]

But on larger scales, assuming the cosmological principle then I'm struggling to understand how the universe would 'contract' due to gravity, which is the assumption used in the FRW equation as I understand it.

I can't answer your question mathematically (it's a good one) but I can tell you that up until quite recently (maybe 15 years ago) it was believe that the universal expansion WOULD at the very least slow down and reach a steady state or more likely go into reverse and cause "the big crunch". BUT ... "dark energy" was discovered and "Einstein's Biggest Blunder" turned out to not be a blunder and the "Cosmological Constant" in his equations is given as one possible explanation for dark energy. So apparently the math does work out in the end.

 

[Bandersnatch]

Newtons theorem. I couldn't understand how it could ignore the effects of gravity outside the shell.

This looks like the crux of the problem. Is the issue with not understanding the derivation of the shell theorem, its conclusions intuitively, or its application to the derivation of Friedmann equations?

 

[Bandersnatch]

If I think of a 2d analogy such as the surface of a sphere, and there were galaxies spread evenly on the surface, then geometrically speaking it would be impossible for everything to move towards each other (or away from each other) unless the size of the 3D sphere changed with time.

So does the fact that gravity and indeed dark energy produce the results observed mean we must live in a 4 dimensional spatial universe? Or is it correct to view space time as that extra spatial dimension?

The first part is correct, the second doesn't follow. It is possible to fully describe an expanding space without having to embed it in a higher dimension. We tend to do that with an expanding 2-sphere as in your example, but it is just a visual aid, not a mathematical necessity. Furthermore, one needs to keep in mind that the universe might be actually flat and infinite, which makes the embedding in a higher dimension no longer useful (so it cannot be time either, as it'd only work in one special group of cases with positive curvature).

 

[Chronos]

@rede96 You have essentially restated Mach's principle.

 

[rede96]

Is the issue with not understanding the derivation of the shell theorem, its conclusions intuitively,

Yes, that is certainly one area I am struggling to come to grips with. It's not so much the principle, as I accept that, even though I don't fully understand it. It is more how it works when applied simultaneously to all matter in the universe. For example if I choose myself to be in the 'center' and look at the gravitational effects on a star some arbitrary distance away, then I know the gravitational forces on that star is equivalent to all the matter within that shell. However there could be someone else on the other side of that star, an equal distance away, whose shell contains the same amount of matter as my shell. So which way does the star in the middle move?

Assuming a universe that was perfectly isotropic and homogeneous, as every point in the universe is equally valid, if I choose all points simultaneously then it would seem the gravitational effects would cancel out. Or more accurately there would be equal gravitational forces in all directions.

 

[Drakkith]

Yes, that is certainly one area I am struggling to come to grips with. It's not so much the principle, as I accept that, even though I don't fully understand it. It is more how it works when applied simultaneously to all matter in the universe. For example if I choose myself to be in the 'center' and look at the gravitational effects on a star some arbitrary distance away, then I know the gravitational forces on that star is equivalent to all the matter within that shell. However there could be someone else on the other side of that star, an equal distance away, whose shell contains the same amount of matter as my shell. So which way does the star in the middle move?

As stated already, these forces would cancel out when you're looking at the largest scales of the universe. But at local scales, such as within galaxies and galaxy clusters, the forces certainly don't cancel out and you have a net force on the star.

 

[Bandersnatch]

As stated already, these forces would cancel out when you're looking at the largest scales of the universe. But at local scales, such as within galaxies and galaxy clusters, the forces certainly don't cancel out and you have a net force on the star.

Drakkith, the question is not about that, it's about the Newtonian derivation of the Friedmann equations, which has as a feature this apparent 'paradox' the OP is talking about.

I don't think I can give a good answer to the OP now, though. I'll think about it some more.

 

[Drakkith]

Drakkith, the question is not about that, it's about the Newtonian derivation of the Friedmann equations, which has as a feature this apparent 'paradox' the OP is talking about.

My apologies. I just woke up. Rereading this thread a bit more, I see now this was already expanded on up above.

 

[phinds]

My apologies. I just woke up.

Need some sleep ... just woke up ... excuses ... excuses ...

 

[Drakkith]

Need some sleep ... just woke up ... excuses ... excuses ...

Indeed. I need to stop logging onto PF first thing in the morning and right before going to bed.

 

[phinds]

Indeed. I need to stop logging onto PF first thing in the morning and right before going to bed.

Well, actually I do sympathize. I've certainly thrown in my 2 cents worth and had it go South for the same reason

 

[rede96]

@rede96 You have essentially restated Mach's principle

Thanks for the reply, I've actually not heard of Mach's principle, so had to look it up. From what I understand isn't it to do inertia? I was just concerned with gravitational forces to be honest. But I probably don't fully understand Mach's principle any way.

 

[rede96]

Hadn't had an answer to this so thought I'd just bump the thread rather than post a new one.

 

[timmdeeg]

I'm not sure which question remained unanswered, perhaps this one:

Yes, exactly. I can understand how locally things aren't uniform so there could be a strong attraction in a particular direction. That even makes sense on much larger scales, as I would imagine there would always be variation (as per quantum physics). But on larger scales, assuming the cosmological principle then I'm struggling to understand how the universe would 'contract' due to gravity, which is the assumption used in the FRW equation as I understand it.

This issue has nothing to do with local inhomogeneities or their neglection on large scales nor with any cancelling of forces. If there isn't enough repelling gravity, dark energy, or the cosmological constant resp. to keep the universe expanding forever then it will expand decelerated until it reaches its largest extension and then will contact. The similarity of throwing a stone upwards is obvious. That's how gravity works. The ball needs an initial speed, the universe an initial rate of expansion.

You can see that surprisingly simple from the second Friedmann equation (Wikipedia): unless $\Lambda$ is large enough in comparison to the matter density the second derivative of the scale factor is negative, which means deceleration.

 

[Bandersnatch]

Perhaps I'll restate the question for the OP, as it seems that people keep missing it.

When one derives the Friedmann equations using Newtonian framework, one picks an arbitrary point in a homogeneous and isotropic distribution of matter as the origin of their coordinates, and writes the equation for acceleration of a particle P at distance R from the origin, which is then converted to mechanical energy equation.
With some manipulation we arrive at the first Friedmann equation (steps detailed here: http://www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/~dhw/A5682/notes4.pdf).
The derivation uses Gauss' law (or equivalently: shell theorem), to justify that all matter located farther than R has no bearing on the dynamics of P.

Since the choice of a sphere drawn in the homogeneous distribution of matter was arbitrary, we should be able to describe the dynamics of the same particle w/r to a different point, and get exactly the same equation. So, if P was e.g. moving away and decelerating w/r to origin O, it does the same w/r to origin O'.

However, since this deceleration is governed by Newtonian gravity, what stops us from saying that point P has no force acting on it, since for any arbitrarily chosen origin we can choose another one, exactly opposite the first and at the same distance, w/r to which P is pulled with equal but opposite force.

Taking into account that in Newtonian derivation we are dealing with particles moving on a static spatial background (rather than embedded in expanding space as in GR), we have a particle that experiences 0 net force.

So what is the justification for saying that it does move w/r to any chosen point (i.e. the sphere of matter is self-gravitating)?
I.e., what gives us the right to write the first step in the derivation, where particle P is accelerated towards the arbitrary origin point?
I was thinking about an answer, but am not quite happy with my reasoning. The best I could come up with was that we get 0 acceleration only with a change of reference frame. As long as you stick with describing the dynamics within one frame, there's no problem. Which would mean that the 0 acceleration result is an error coming from trying to use two reference frames at once.

There's also the possibility that this is just one of the limitations of Newtonian derivation, and that one needs to follow the GR derivation to get rid of it in a satisfactory manner (after all, the Friedmann equations were only arrived at once GR was available). Not being conversant with GR I can't be certain that's the case, though. Furthermore, while browsing a couple papers detailing differences between the two derivations these past few days, this issue was never brought up.

If anyone can fill in the blanks, that'd be great.

 

[PeterDonis]

since this deceleration is governed by Newtonian gravity, what stops us from saying that point P has no force acting on it, since for any arbitrarily chosen origin we can choose another one, exactly opposite the first and at the same distance, w/r to which P is pulled with equal but opposite force.

Because if you switch origins, the original origin is now outside radius $R$ from the new origin, which means its effects cancel out (because everything outside radius $R$ from whatever your chosen origin is cancels out by the shell theorem). Similarly, with the original choice of origin, the "new" origin (the one you are contemplating switching to) is outside radius $R$ and its effects cancel out.

Taking into account that in Newtonian derivation we are dealing with particles moving on a static spatial background

Which is really the underlying issue here. The Newtonian derivation, IMO, does not actually explain why the entire universe decelerates if it is matter dominated; it's just a heuristic that can help to make the idea plausible, by showing how it makes sense as long as we confine ourselves to a finite region around some chosen origin. But it cannot be extended to a description of the entire universe like the one GR gives using standard FRW coordinates; those coordinates simply do not satisfy the assumption of a static spatial background (because our actual universe doesn't have one), so there's no way for a Newtonian model to ever arrive at them.

Which would mean that the 0 acceleration result is an error coming from trying to use two reference frames at once.

That's part of it, yes, as my first comment in this post implies. But the other part is the limitation described in my second comment above.

 

[rede96]

Perhaps I'll restate the question for the OP, as it seems that people keep missing it.

Thank you for that, it's very much appreciated.

Which is really the underlying issue here. The Newtonian derivation, IMO, does not actually explain why the entire universe decelerates if it is matter dominated; it's just a heuristic that can help to make the idea plausible, by showing how it makes sense as long as we confine ourselves to a finite region around some chosen origin.

Thank you for your reply Peter. So can the Friedmann equations be derived without using Newtonian gravity?

But it cannot be extended to a description of the entire universe like the one GR gives using standard FRW coordinates; those coordinates simply do not satisfy the assumption of a static spatial background (because our actual universe doesn't have one), so there's no way for a Newtonian model to ever arrive at them.

So if I imagine 3 shells A, B and C arbitrarily spaced in a isotropic and homogeneous universe so that no shell overlaps with another. As I understand it, observers at the center of A, B and C would see any matter within their shell being pulled towards them.

But from what I understand about how the universe is modeled, in a matter dominated universe (e.g. no dark energy) then any observer would see all matter moving in towards them. Which seems to contradicts what observes in the 3 shells would see.

So what is the correct way to think about this using the example I gave?

 

[Bandersnatch]

Which seems to contradicts what observes in the 3 shells would see.

But it doesn't. It's exactly the same statement. After all, the centres of any two spheres are accelerated towards the third

So can the Friedmann equations be derived without using Newtonian gravity?

http://www.physics.umn.edu/classes/...ds/399811-FriedmanEqDerivation.pdf?download=1