Space - is it infinite?

[Dark_Angel]

Some people say it isn't, but it is growing at a speed faster than light, others say it is finite, and other people just kinda shrug.

Please bare in mind, I am *not* talking about the universe, in other words the space where there is "stars and planets" I am talking about the literally black empty cold space.

I heard that currently they have a model at the moment where only 4 percent or so of the universe is made with atoms, everything else is made of Dark Matter and Dark Energy (and by made, I mean the majoriy of the mass comprises of) - kind of cool really

 

[Dark_Angel]

I might sound like an idiot, but if you're not talking about the universe then what are you talking about?

I basically mean charging past ALL of the stars and everything else. Just how you go past our galaxy (the milky way) and you keep going to find another, then eventually you go out of our galaxy.

Are we completely sure space is infinite, in other words, if you travelled at the speed of light for 1 trillion years (ok couldn't happen but still) would we be thinking "ok, this is a long way back now"... I have heard some people say that space is curved, so at some point you come back to the start (kind of like a large circle like earth is)

Sorry for my ignorance, I know bits about space, like black holes, stars and stuff but not much about the theories behind this kinda thing

 

[Dark_Angel]

It all depends if you talk about space as the universe. Or the nothingness it's growing into.

Well, I had read that the universe is expanding, but no, I meant literally the vast open blackness of space.

I mean, what the hell happens if there is an edge and you reach and and take the plundge off? do you suddenly appear in a different universe

/adds petrol. Perhaps this dark matter and energy is just parallel universes

 

[Dark_Angel]

I think I know what you mean now, but I'm not entirely sure.

If you travel out into space in a straight line eventually you will reach the edge of our galaxy and leave it. You will have an immense empty space after that but eventually you are going to enter the star field of another galaxy, and this will probably go on forever until you reach the edge of the universe.

I won't get into the "edge of the universe" or curved universe stuff as I have really don't know anything about that. Not through lack of trying I might add, just because for some reason I can't get my head around it.

Feel like an attempt at a basic explanation, or perhaps nudge me in the direction of some reading material?

 

[Dark_Angel]

Anyone else spot the contradiction in the opening line?
how can something that is infinite grow?

How is it?

Picture a balloon.

Say to begin with it is this big (based on the tip to tip size)

:.................:

You expand it (it is a FINITE size, but you are simply adding air to expand it)

:...............................:

Now it is that big.

It is still not infinite, there is a limit to the size, but it is expanding.

 

[Dark_Angel]

You totally missed the point. The UNIVERSE is growing, but its is in no way like a balloon. The universe could be compared to it but not everything else. in order for it to be able to expand in the first place it must have something (nothing) to expand INTO.

- Pea0n

Um... I wasn't comparing it to a balloon, I was just using a balloon to explain something that is a certain size now, is finite, and is changing

 

[Dark_Angel]

Corrected

Yep - Einstein said the closer you are to a large mavity field, the slower time moves.

Hence why satelites in space constantly need their times altered, this affects GPS systems especially.