THE Future
Published by "In my beginning is my end." (T. S. Eliot, Four Quartets)
Will the universe continue to expand forever? This depends on how much matter the universe contains and on how fast it is expanding. There are three possibilities:
1. If the average density p of the universe is smaller than a certain critical density pc that is a function of the expansion rate, the universe is open and the expansion will never stop. Eventually new galaxies and stars will cease to form and existing ones will end up as black dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes—an icy death.
2. If p is greater than pL, the universe is closed and sooner or later gravity will stop the expansion. The universe will then begin to contract. The progression of events will be the reverse of those that took place after the Big Bang, with an ultimate Big Crunch— a fiery death. And after that another Big Bang? If so, then the universe is cyclic, with no beginning and no end.
3. If p = pc, the expansion will continue at an ever-decreasing rate but the universe will not contract. In this case the universe is said to be flat because of the geometry of space in such a universe. If p < pL, space is negatively curved; a two-dimensional analogy is a saddle. If p > pt, space is positively curved; a two-dimensional analogy is the surface of a sphere. In all cases, however, spacetime is curved.
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On December 30, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Interesting and important information. Good job.
On December 30, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Interesting article,
On December 31, 2010 at 6:39 am
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On December 31, 2010 at 7:52 am
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On December 31, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Interesting and important information.
Happy new year 2011, may god always give safety, success and of guidance for you. From your friend, uiputra.
On January 1, 2011 at 5:19 am
Happy New Year
On January 1, 2011 at 5:20 am
Happy New Year.
On January 1, 2011 at 10:40 am
Interesting facts. Thanks for sharing.
On January 2, 2011 at 2:14 pm
A physics and astronomy buff, huh? I like you already. Very interesting article. I look forward to reading more of your material.