How long until the universe can write a googolplex?

In summary, the conversation discusses the possibility of writing a googolplex, which would require a significant amount of space that is currently not available in the universe. By estimating the expansion rate of the universe, it is determined that it would take approximately 140 billion years for the universe to be large enough to theoretically write a googolplex.
  • #1
Max7291
Hi everyone, sorry to bother you with a really random question, and I hope I'm posting this in the right board, but here goes anyway...

The universe is currently too small in size to write out an entire googolplex. The visible universe is 4 x 1080 m3 (according to the ever reliable Wikipedia, you may have some more accurate figures). The amount of books it'd take to write an entire googolplex would require 8.1 x 1090 m3 of space, again according to Wiki
Assuming this data to be true and assuming that the universe is expanding at approximately 70 km s-1 Mpc-1, how long would it take before the universe is big enough to theoretically be able to write a googolplex?

You'll have to forgive me if any of that info's wrong and for the stupid question in the first place, but this is the kind of thing I think about at 2 in the morning :smile:
 
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  • #2
Welcome to PF;
You want to do things like define what you mean by the "volume of the Universe".
Once you know that you can make sense of figures about the expansion - you need the volume expansion of the Universe.

You still have an issue because all those books have to be made out of matter at some level and the volume of matter in the universe is much smaller than the volume of universe.

But it's basically a math problem.
 
  • #3
Max7291 said:
The visible universe is 4 x 1080 m3 (according to the ever reliable Wikipedia, ...would require 8.1 x 1090 m3 ...

Setting aside the talk about filling the visible universe with books which are in turn filled with zeros, you are asking a simple question about volume increasing by a factor of about 2 x 1010.

that is, you are asking how long will it take for current volume of visible to become 20 billion times larger than it is today.

I'll tell you how long it will take (according to standard cosmic model that most cosmologists use) for volume to increase a MILLION fold. You can take it from there or some other folks will help. This will give you an idea.

Go here:
http://www.einsteins-theory-of-relativity-4engineers.com/LightCone7/LightCone.html

It says that now is year 13.8 billion and it says by year 92 billion distances will have increased 100-fold. That means VOLUMES will have increased 100 x 100 x 100 fold. A million-fold.
So that is a bit less than 80 billion years.

Now at that time, distance expansion will be locked into a steady percentage growth rate of 1/173 % per million years. So if you can calculate exponential growth at some fixed percent rate you can figure out how long going the rest of the way will take.

My guess is that another 60 billion years would do it, at that rate. So overall you are talking 80+60
or 140 billion years of expansion to increase current volumes by the factor you indicated namely multiply volumes by a factor of 20 billion.
 
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Related to How long until the universe can write a googolplex?

1. How big is a googolplex and how long would it take the universe to write it?

A googolplex is a number that is 1 followed by a googol of zeros, which is 10^100 zeros. It is a number so large that it cannot be written or even comprehended by humans. The universe is estimated to be around 13.8 billion years old and it is impossible to accurately determine how long it would take for the universe to write a googolplex.

2. Can the universe even write a googolplex?

The universe is made up of matter, energy, and forces, and it does not possess a conscious mind or the ability to write. Therefore, the universe cannot write a googolplex or any other number.

3. How does the concept of time factor into the universe writing a googolplex?

Time is a measurement of the duration of events. The concept of time is relative and can vary depending on different factors such as the speed of an object or the strength of gravity. Therefore, the idea of the universe writing a googolplex is not feasible as time is not a constant and cannot be accurately measured in this scenario.

4. Is it possible for a computer or AI to write a googolplex?

A computer or AI can process and store incredibly large numbers, but it is not possible for them to physically write a googolplex. In order to write a number, there needs to be a physical medium such as ink and paper, which a computer or AI does not possess.

5. How does the concept of infinity relate to the universe writing a googolplex?

Infinity is a concept that is often associated with the universe and the vastness of space. However, it is not a number and cannot be used in mathematical calculations. The idea of the universe writing a googolplex, which is a finite number, does not relate to the concept of infinity in any way.

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