Does the universe have a finite size?
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Does the universe have a finite size?
The shape of the universe A finite universe has a finite size that can be measured; this would be the case in a closed spherical universe. But an infinite universe has no size by definition. According to NASA, scientists know that the universe is flat with only about a 0.4 percent margin of error (as of 2013).
What do you think of the statement the universe has no center and no edge or boundary )?
Think about this for a moment: If the Universe is infinite, it has unlimited volume; if the Universe is finite, it has a limited, measurable volume. Remember now, we are not talking about boundaries, for this is another matter. A boundary is an edge of space. For it to have no edge or boundary, it must be infinite.
Do we know the shape of the universe?
The exact shape is still a matter of debate in physical cosmology, but experimental data from various independent sources (WMAP, BOOMERanG, and Planck for example) confirm that the universe is flat with only a 0.4\% margin of error.
How is infinite space possible?
If the universe is perfectly geometrically flat, then it can be infinite. If it’s curved, like Earth’s surface, then it has finite volume. Current observations and measurements of the curvature of the universe indicate that it is almost perfectly flat. You might think this means the universe is infinite.
Does the universe have a center explain?
The universe, in fact, has no center. Ever since the Big Bang 13.7 billion years ago, the universe has been expanding. Then every point in the universe expanded equally, and that continues today. And so, without any point of origin, the universe has no center.
What shape is the universe and how do we know?
If the universe’s density is great enough for its gravity to overcome the force of expansion, then the universe will curl into a ball. This is known as the closed model, with positive curvature resembling a sphere. A mind-boggling property of this universe is that it is finite, yet it has no bounds.
Is the universe finite or infinite?
First, it’s still possible the universe is finite. All we know for sure (mostly for sure) is that it’s bigger than we can observe, essentially because the farthest edges of the universe we can see don’t look like edges. The observable universe is still huge, but it has limits.
Does the universe have any bounds?
Thus, the universe has no bounds and will also expand forever, but with the rate of expansion gradually approaching zero after an infinite amount of time. This is termed a flat universe or a Euclidian universe (because the usual geometry of non-curved surfaces that we learn in high school is called Euclidian geometry).
Can the expansion of the universe stop if space is flat?
If space has negative curvature, there is insufficient mass to cause the expansion of the universe to stop. If space has no curvature (i.e, it is flat), there is exactly enough mass to cause the expansion to stop, but only after an infinite amount of time.
Is the universe flat or curved?
This is termed a flat universe or a Euclidian universe (because the usual geometry of non-curved surfaces that we learn in high school is called Euclidian geometry). If space has positive curvature, there is more than enough mass to stop the present expansion of the universe.