The universe, it's expanding faster and faster?

[Tasselfoot]

I responded to your PM. I'm done trying to discuss this with brick walls.

[hatakikakashi]

http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/m_uni/uni_101accel.html

http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/m_uni/uni_101shape.html Supporting evidence...

This isn't where I had originally heard this from. But it's saying the same thing that I was trying to get at.

Note this paragraph from the top link

Very recently it has become practical for astronomers to observe very bright rare stars called supernova in an effort to measure how much the universal expansion has slowed over the last few billion years. Surprisingly, the results of these observations indicate that the universal expansion is speeding up, or accelerating! While these results should be considered preliminary, they raise the possibility that the universe contains a bizarre form of matter or energy that is, in effect, gravitationally repulsive. The cosmological constant is an example of this type of energy. Much work remains to elucidate this mystery!

Also this one from the botton link

However, the results of the WMAP mission and observations of distant supernova have suggested that the expansion of the universe is actually accelerating which implies the existence of a form of matter with a strong negative pressure, such as the cosmological constant. This strange form of matter is also sometimes referred to as the "dark energy". If dark energy in fact plays a significant role in the evolution of the universe, then in all likelihood the universe will continue to expand forever.

I'm not trying to say that's what's happening for sure, but I thought it would be interesting to discuss. Even with brick walls.

[Tasselfoot]

If I'm wrong, I'm wrong.... but, you do understand my tight-rope theory, right? If the universe is accelerating, it wouldn't have just started now out of nowhere, it would have been accelerating for billions of years. Even the most minute acceleration dragged out of billions of years would equate to an unbelievably fast acceleration now, and the complete seperation of galaxies, which isn't true.

I hold by my theory.

[hatakikakashi]

I don't think that's necessarally true. It would build up unbelievably fast speed but maybe not very fast acceleration. I understand the tight rope theory (I think) but if it still expanding at a constant unchanging rate, it will expand forever and thin out and die just like you said would happen. Plus why hasn't that happen yet? J/K If you think that nothing lasts forever, and there is no god then why can't the universe be heading for disaster? I don't know if god is out there or if we made him/her up, but I do think that eventually the entire universe will come to and end. Maybe there is some grand system in place that will start everything over and over. Maybe this is the one shot that life in the cosmos gets I don't know. I think it's at least a possibility that the universe will die out.

[Tasselfoot]

That post made no sense... The constant expanding (constant velocity, acc=0) translates to the universe in which we now know and observe. That is what all the empirical evidence has shown since the invention and implamentation of space telescopes. Do you not get what acceleration means? It means the rate (velocity) or the expansion is ever increasing... so, it starts out at 100, 1000 years later it is 101, etc... spread that over 10 billion years, and we're at 10 million from 100 over the course of the universe. That is HUGE change... something that would result in a much different universe than we currently have.

I hope that explains my point better, because your last post makes me think that you aren't understanding what I'm saying.

[hatakikakashi]

No I get what you meant to say. You probably meant to say speed not acceleration the second time.

But if you look at what you actually wrote you should understand my post.

Even the most minute acceleration dragged out of billions of years would equate to an unbelievably fast acceleration now...

I was just saying that the speed would build up not the accelleration.
Plus the other thing is I think that the acceleration could be almost zero, like you start at 100 then after billion years it's 1000. I'm not saying that everything is flying apart at the seams. I'm saying that it's ever so slightly going faster. right now it's like 6000 then in a billion more years it'll be 7000.

[Tasselfoot]

yes. i meant velocity the 2nd place where i said acceleration... and, frankly, we're at the point where there is no answers, only theories.

you have yours, i have mine. i generally feel that i'm right until proven wrong, so... gl with that.

[hatakikakashi]

Wonderful, you have my full respect. I really didn't expect any answers, I just think it's fun to think about.
-edit-

http://www.answers.com/topic/ultimate-fate-of-the-universe

http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;jsessionid=19o17ixhdf330?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Big+Crunch&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1&sbid=lc03b

A couple more links for those of us still interested.

[KnightCybil]

Exit Mundi has some stuff on this. Okay, so it mainly has to do with how the universe is going to be destroyed, but whatever.

The universe is a four-dimensional Hypersphere, muah.

[Tasselfoot]

Knight, you've been a member here for well over a year, and you finally make a post... and it sucks.

This is CT forum. If you don't have a comment that is appropriate for CT, then don't post it here.

Also, read the forum rules... this thread is RIGHT on the edge of being dead. I was pretty sure it was... aka, don't post in dead topics.

[AlbinoLime]

Has anybody actually read the books Tasselfoot suggested? It doesn't seem like many of you have. I haven't read them, but I have read A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. That book basically says what Tasselfoot is saying, so read one of these books please people.

[Tasselfoot]

OK, i'm locking this. That post alone deserves a slap from the modstick. I'm glad you agree with me. Give more.... this is CT.