Does age of Universe reveal its size?

In summary, knowing the age of the universe does not necessarily provide information about its size, as the size could potentially be infinite beyond our observable horizon. The unknown size is also a factor in our uncertainty about whether the universe will ultimately experience a big crunch or continue expanding due to dark energy. The current understanding is that the universe will continue to expand at an increasing rate, but the ultimate fate is still uncertain.
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Pjpic
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Does knowing the age of the universe (13.8 billion? ) say anything about size of the universe (besides the observable size)?
 
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No. We know the size of the observable universe, but not what lies outside of our horizon. The size could be infinite.
 
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phyzguy said:
No. We know the size of the observable universe, but not what lies outside of our horizon. The size could be infinite.

Is not knowing the size the reason we don't know if the expansion will ultimately end in a big crunch?
 
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Pjpic said:
Is not knowing the size the reason we don't know if the expansion will ultimately end in a big crunch?
No. We now know that it will not.
 
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Pjpic said:
Is not knowing the size the reason we don't know if the expansion will ultimately end in a big crunch?
We are in the early stages of a dark energy dominated universe. The expansion rate will continue to get faster and faster. Whether the universe ends in a big rip, according to current models, is still an open question. It depends on the exact form of the dark energy equation of state.
 

Related to Does age of Universe reveal its size?

1. How old is the Universe?

The current estimated age of the Universe is about 13.8 billion years old. This value is based on measurements of the cosmic microwave background radiation and the expansion rate of the Universe.

2. How does the age of the Universe relate to its size?

The age of the Universe does not directly reveal its size. However, the size of the observable Universe is limited by the speed of light and the expansion rate of the Universe, which are both affected by the age of the Universe.

3. Has the size of the Universe changed since its birth?

Yes, the size of the Universe has changed since its birth. The Universe is constantly expanding, meaning that its size has increased over time. However, the rate of expansion has varied throughout the history of the Universe.

4. How do scientists measure the age of the Universe?

Scientists measure the age of the Universe using a variety of methods, including analyzing the cosmic microwave background radiation, studying the evolution of galaxies and stars, and measuring the distances to distant objects using standard candles.

5. Is the age of the Universe a fixed value?

The age of the Universe is not a fixed value and is constantly being refined as new data and observations become available. As our understanding of the Universe improves, the estimated age of the Universe may change slightly.

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