4
$\begingroup$

I just watched an iMax planetarium video that claimed that no matter where you are in the universe, it will appear that you are at the center of the universe and all things are expanding away from you.

What the heck?? Can someone please explain this?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2
$\begingroup$

This is a famous analogy, which was prbably given to you in the video. Imagne that you are on a ball of dough full of raisins. You obviously perceive yourself as the center. Then, the dough starts to grow. The raisins are still the same size, but there is constantly more and more dough between them. From your position it would seem like there is always more and more space between you and everything else. You don't see yourself moving, but you see everything else moving away from you. This effect would happen anywhere in the universe, not only at the center. In fact, you would think - correctly, relatively speaking - that the center (if you can see it) is being pushed away from you. So basically, it all comes down to your point of view.

This expansion is thoroughly studied presently. The most common theory is that the universe contains a giant amount of energy (called dark energy) that is so far undetectable and that is causing the the space to expand. Think of it as yeast. There are other theories that are much more complicated, which a non-professional such as I wouldn't be able to explain. (For instance, there is one that suggests that our universe adheres to other universes, like soap bubbles, which adds space). But dark energy is the most likely candidate, so far.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
4
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ dark energy has only become the dominant factor in expansion in the last four billion years, before that the main driver of expansion was the initial conditions of the Universe. A non-empty expanding Universe must have a sort of initial momentum of expansion which causes it to expand. $\endgroup$
    – John Davis
    Feb 7, 2015 at 21:11
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ It even works in 1d. Draw a line of dots representing galaxies, horizontally on a page. Then below, draw another line but increase the space between the dots. Then below that anther line, but increase the space again. Now choose a galaxy (dot) to be on. Whichever one you choose, in your frame of reference all the other dots are moving away from you, and at a rate that is proportional to their distance from you! i..e Hubble's law. $\endgroup$
    – ProfRob
    Feb 7, 2015 at 21:39
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ My favorite is ants on an inflating balloon. They all think they're on the center of the surface, and that all the others are moving away from them. Stupid ants. They're all right, though… $\endgroup$
    – pela
    Feb 7, 2015 at 21:47
  • $\begingroup$ Dark energy causes acceleration, not expansion. Positive dark energy-driven acceleration is even consistent with contraction followed by a Big Crunch, though of course contraction is not what we observe for our universe. $\endgroup$
    – Stan Liou
    Feb 8, 2015 at 4:48

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .