Is the Universe Truly Expanding? Examining the Paradox of Infinite Expansion

[Ben.meyer]

I have been looking around people are talking about the universe expanding. By geometry we are able to figure out that the universe is infinite. The question is, if the universe is infinite than how can be expanding?

 

[phinds]

I have been looking around people are talking about the universe expanding. By geometry we are able to figure out that the universe is infinite. The question is, if the universe is infinite than how can be expanding?

No, we are NOT able to calculate that the universe is infinite. It MIGHT be, or it might not be.

Regardless, if it IS infinite, then continued expansion is not a problem.

You should read up on the concept of infinity.

 

[nicksauce]

Imagine I have a set 1,2,3,4,5,6,...

Then some later time that set has now 2,4,6,8,10,12,...

Both sets are infinite, but in some sense that set has expanded.

 

[Ben.meyer]

Thanks, that definately gave me a better understanding.

 

[sardar]

I can provide a response to this question by explaining the current understanding of the expansion of the universe. The concept of the universe expanding was first proposed by Edwin Hubble in the 1920s, based on his observations of galaxies moving away from each other. This led to the development of the Big Bang theory, which states that the universe began as a singularity and has been expanding ever since.

The paradox of infinite expansion arises from the fact that if the universe is infinite, then it would seem that it cannot expand any further. However, this paradox can be resolved by understanding that the expansion of the universe is not a physical expansion of space, but rather a stretching of space itself. This means that even an infinite universe can continue to expand, as the space between objects increases.

One way to visualize this is to think of the universe as a balloon being blown up. The surface of the balloon represents the fabric of space, and as the balloon expands, the distances between the points on the surface also increase. This is similar to how the universe is expanding, with galaxies and other objects moving further apart as space itself expands.

Furthermore, the concept of an infinite universe is still a topic of debate among scientists. While some theories suggest that the universe is infinite, others propose that it may have a finite size, but with no boundaries. This means that the universe may be curved in a way that it appears infinite, but it is still expanding.

In conclusion, the current understanding is that the universe is indeed expanding, regardless of its size or potential infinity. The paradox of infinite expansion can be resolved by understanding that the expansion is happening on a cosmic scale, stretching the fabric of space itself. Further research and observations will continue to enhance our understanding of the expansion of the universe.