About a century ago, the scholars were struggling to reconcile what appeared in it Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity.
Posted in 1915And it has already accepted widely around the world by physicists and mathematicians, the theory assumed that the universe was fixed – not changing, not grumbling and not subject to change. In short, Einstein believed that the size and shape of the universe today was, to some extent, the same size and shape it was always.
But when astronomers looked at the night sky in remote galaxies with strong telescopes, they saw hints that the universe was only that. These new notes suggested the opposite – that it was, Instead, expansion.
Scientists soon realized Einstein’s theory that the universe should be fixed; Theory can support the expanded universe as well. Indeed, using the same sports tools provided by Einstein’s theory, scientists have created new models that showed that the universe was, in fact, Dynamic and evolution.
I have spent decades in an attempt to understand general relativity, including in my current job As a physics professor Educational courses On this topic. I know that wrapping your head around the idea of the consistent universe constantly can feel arduous-part of the challenge is to overcome your natural intuition on how things work. For example, it is difficult to imagine a big thing like the lack of center at all, but physics says this is the reality.
The distance between galaxies
First, let’s define what is meant by “expansion”. On the ground, “expansion” means that something is increasing. With regard to the universe, this is true, somewhat. Expansion may also mean “everything is farther than us”, and this is also true regarding the universe. Clarify a telescope in remote galaxies and they all appear To stay away from us.
What is more, the further it is, the more it appears to move faster. These galaxies seem to be away from each other. So it is accurate to say that everything in the universe is happening Away from everything elseEvery time.
This idea is hidden but crucial. It is easy to think about creating the universe like an explosion for fireworks: Start with TugThen all galaxies in the universe fly in all directions from a central point.
But this measurement is incorrect. This does not implicitly mean that the expansion of the universe started from one spot, which he did not do, but also indicates that galaxies are the things that move, and they are not completely accurate.
It is not the galaxies that move away from each other – it is the space between the galaxies and the fabric of the universe itself, and this It is constantly expanding over time. In other words, it is not the same galaxies that move across the universe; It is more than that The universe itself It carries them away from expansion.
There is a common analogy that imagines adhering to some points on the balloon surface. While the air blows in the balloon, it expands. Because the points are stuck on the balloon surface, they disintegrate. Although it may seem to be moving, the points actually remain in the place where you put it, and the distance between them is simply growing by virtue of the widening of the balloon.
Now think about the points as a bilon -walon as a fabric of the universe, and start getting the image.
Unfortunately, while this measurement is a good start, it does not get the details correctly as well.
The fourth dimension
It is important for any analogy to understand his restrictions. Some defects are clear: the balloon is small enough to fit your hand – not the universe. Another drawback is more accurate. The balloon contains two parts: its latex and inner surface filled with air.
These two parts of the balloon are described differently as mathematics. Balloon surface. If you wander around, you can go forward, back, left or right, but you cannot move up or down without leaving the surface.
Now it might seem to be as if we call four directions here – forward, back, left and right – but these are just movements along two main tracks: from side to side to back. This makes the surface two-dimensional-length and width.
On the other hand, the inner part of the 3D balloon is, so you will be able to move freely in any direction, including up or down-length, width and height.
This is the place where confusion lies. The thing that we think is the “center” of the balloon is a point in the interior, in the air filled with air below the surface.
But in this measurement, the universe resembles the surface of the latex. There is no counterpart in the world of balloon full of air in our world, so we cannot use this part of the measurement-just the surface.
So he asked, “Where is the center of the universe?” Is it somewhat similar to the question, “Where is the center of the balloon?” Simply not one. You can travel along the balloon surface in any direction, as long as you want, and you will never reach a place you can contact in its center because you will never leave the surface.
In the same way, you can travel in any direction in the universe and you will never find its center because, like a balloon surface, it is very similar to the balloon surface Simply does not have one.
Part of the reason that this could be a major challenge to understand it is the way the universe is described as mathematics. The surface of the balloon contains two dimensions, and the inner balloon has three, but the universe is in four dimensions. Because it is not only about how things are transmitted in space, but how they move in time.
Our brains are wireless to think about space and time separately. But in the universe, they are tangled in one fabric, called “Space“This monotheism changes the way the universe works for what our intuition expects.
This interpretation does not even start to answer a question about how something It can expand indefinitely Scientists are still trying to cancel what prepares this expansion.
So in the question about the center of the universe, we face the limits of our intuition. The answer that we find – everything, expanding everywhere, at the same time – is a glimpse of the exotic and beauty of our world.
This article has been republished from ConversationAn independent, non -profit news organization brings you facts and trusted analysis to help you understand our complex world. Written by: Rob Quinnand Rudd Island University
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Rob Quinn receives funding from the National Aviation and Space Administration (NASA) and the American National Science Foundation (NSF).
