Do you believe that space is finite or infinite?

DudeNtheRoom · 07-11-2011, 05:39 PM

I was watching a TV show about this while I was eating. i always thought it was believed that space was infinite. Seems there are some scientists that believe is it circular like a ball or something and when you go out one end you come in the exact opposite side.

Theres a plasma layer out there all around us waaaaaaay out in space. So even if we built a telescope capable of looking past it we wouldn't be able to.

This leaves us to wonder if space is in fact 1 of the 2.

I'm going to stay old school on this one and say it's infinite.

Lozer · 07-11-2011, 05:43 PM

I believe it's finite but ever-expanding!

However, sizing the universe is beyond our comprehension or measurements, so it may look infinite to us mortals.

stillmatic07 · 07-11-2011, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lozer

I believe it's finite but ever-expanding!

However, sizing the universe is beyond our comprehension or measurements, so it may look infinite to us mortals.

I think it's finite. We'll never reach the end though. Plus it's theorized that there are 8 or so dimensions, so we are a spec in the grand scheme of things.

sad_ism · 07-11-2011, 05:49 PM

Now that the US has cancelled its space shuttle program, you may never know! :troll:

cegrogan · 07-11-2011, 05:52 PM

Several laws of physics would be utterly broken if space was infinite. Especially the idea of continual entropy, since infinite space would indicate infinite mass, which correlates to infinite energy.

DarthSatoris · 07-11-2011, 05:58 PM

There's a theory going around called "heat death" or "big freeze", where scientists speculate the ultimate fate of the universe to go to a complete standstill (freeze over) as the universe continues to expand, by using the laws of thermodynamics.

If anyone here knows about thermodynamic powers, the universe is a closed system, and as space expands, the distribution of the only heat we have gets thinner and thinner until it's so thin that the limit is reached and thus everything freezes over as there's no more heat.

This of course takes several hundred billions of years so it won't happen in your time.

cegrogan · 07-11-2011, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarthSatoris

There's a theory going around called "heat death" or "big freeze", where scientists speculate the ultimate fate of the universe to go to a complete standstill as the universe continues to expand, by using the laws of thermodynamics.

Entropy is a ♥♥♥♥♥

Snorkel · 07-11-2011, 06:02 PM

Yes, I believe that space is finite or infinite.

frogsmoothy · 07-11-2011, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cegrogan

Entropy is a ♥♥♥♥♥

Well played. I'll bring that up in my next physics class.

I think logically, it should be infinite. But it's probably finite.

AsheMan · 07-11-2011, 06:03 PM

Maybe it's infinite, but somehow comes in on itself as a cycle (expand/contrast, layers of dimensions, wormhole/circular) as an infinite process.

cegrogan · 07-11-2011, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frogsmoothy

Well played. I'll bring that up in my next physics class.

I think logically, it should be infinite. But it's probably finite.

Thing is, heat death or the big freeze wouldn't be a very logical assumption if energy was infinite

damaged · 07-11-2011, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cegrogan

Entropy is a ♥♥♥♥♥

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bueZoYhUlg

DarthSatoris · 07-11-2011, 06:07 PM

To bring up my own theory.

Bubble Multiverse.

Our universe is a bubble among countless other bubbles, and there is a definite wall when you reach it. you can't see past it, you can't determine its substance; it's literally the end of the world.

The other bubbles are similar universes to ours, and they are under the same laws of physics as us. But only 10^500 of them. The rest have completely different laws of physics.

FreemanForPrez · 07-11-2011, 06:10 PM

Are we talking space or the universe?

In the case of the universe, if the Big Bang is correct, it would have to be finite, although expanding, as someone else pointed out.

If we're talking space (not space-time), as in the absence of everything, I would have to guess space is infinite.

But although I can easily picture a finite but ever-expanding universe, I find it impossible to picture infinite empty space.

And there's also this problem - what are we left with after all the last particles in our universe have poofed out of existence?
Does space still exist? I'd say yes. Does space-time still exist? hmmm....

bluz74 · 07-11-2011, 06:12 PM

Thinking about space hurts my tiny brain. That's why I hang out at the space bar looking for Esc.

07-11-2011, 05:39 PM	#1
DudeNtheRoom Join Date: Sep 2010 Reputation: 1566 Posts: 248	Do you believe that space is finite or infinite? I was watching a TV show about this while I was eating. i always thought it was believed that space was infinite. Seems there are some scientists that believe is it circular like a ball or something and when you go out one end you come in the exact opposite side. Theres a plasma layer out there all around us waaaaaaay out in space. So even if we built a telescope capable of looking past it we wouldn't be able to. This leaves us to wonder if space is in fact 1 of the 2. I'm going to stay old school on this one and say it's infinite.

07-11-2011, 05:58 PM	#6
DarthSatoris Join Date: Sep 2008 Reputation: 986 Posts: 2,950	There's a theory going around called "heat death" or "big freeze", where scientists speculate the ultimate fate of the universe to go to a complete standstill (freeze over) as the universe continues to expand, by using the laws of thermodynamics. If anyone here knows about thermodynamic powers, the universe is a closed system, and as space expands, the distribution of the only heat we have gets thinner and thinner until it's so thin that the limit is reached and thus everything freezes over as there's no more heat. This of course takes several hundred billions of years so it won't happen in your time. Last edited by DarthSatoris: 07-11-2011 at 06:03 PM.

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07-11-2011, 05:43 PM	#2
Lozer Join Date: Apr 2005 Reputation: 726 Posts: 512	I believe it's finite but ever-expanding! However, sizing the universe is beyond our comprehension or measurements, so it may look infinite to us mortals.

07-11-2011, 05:49 PM	#4
sad_ism Join Date: Sep 2010 Reputation: 1463 Posts: 77	Now that the US has cancelled its space shuttle program, you may never know! :troll:

07-11-2011, 05:52 PM	#5
cegrogan Join Date: Jul 2011 Reputation: 538 Posts: 74	Several laws of physics would be utterly broken if space was infinite. Especially the idea of continual entropy, since infinite space would indicate infinite mass, which correlates to infinite energy.

07-11-2011, 06:02 PM	#8
Snorkel Join Date: Apr 2011 Reputation: 5979 Posts: 348	Yes, I believe that space is finite or infinite.

07-11-2011, 06:03 PM	#10
AsheMan Join Date: Jun 2010 Reputation: 2504 Posts: 2,802	Maybe it's infinite, but somehow comes in on itself as a cycle (expand/contrast, layers of dimensions, wormhole/circular) as an infinite process.

07-11-2011, 06:07 PM	#13
DarthSatoris Join Date: Sep 2008 Reputation: 986 Posts: 2,950	To bring up my own theory. Bubble Multiverse. Our universe is a bubble among countless other bubbles, and there is a definite wall when you reach it. you can't see past it, you can't determine its substance; it's literally the end of the world. The other bubbles are similar universes to ours, and they are under the same laws of physics as us. But only 10^500 of them. The rest have completely different laws of physics.

07-11-2011, 06:10 PM	#14
FreemanForPrez Join Date: May 2008 Reputation: 6531 Posts: 3,821	Are we talking space or the universe? In the case of the universe, if the Big Bang is correct, it would have to be finite, although expanding, as someone else pointed out. If we're talking space (not space-time), as in the absence of everything, I would have to guess space is infinite. But although I can easily picture a finite but ever-expanding universe, I find it impossible to picture infinite empty space. And there's also this problem - what are we left with after all the last particles in our universe have poofed out of existence? Does space still exist? I'd say yes. Does space-time still exist? hmmm....

07-11-2011, 06:12 PM	#15
bluz74 Join Date: Aug 2009 Reputation: 33692 Posts: 5,579	Thinking about space hurts my tiny brain. That's why I hang out at the space bar looking for Esc.