Universal Collapse

[dustinsreynolds]

I've been thinking about an idea for a while and I need some input. If the universe is a bubble with edges that are expanding out further and further, how long would it take for the universe to collapse back in upon itself (assuming the bubble reaches some sort of limit)? Will it collapse in at a constant rate or collapse at a rate that grows exponentially? Would the edges of the universe collapse faster than the speed of light? <br />

 

[harmonicaman]

<b>Dustinreynolds -</b><br /><br />Welcome aboard!<br /><br /><i>"If the universe is a bubble with edges that are expanding out further and further..."</i><br /><br />I would argue that the <i>"Bubble"</i> analogy is not the most precise model depicting how our universe is expanding. Mainstream scientific cosmological thought seems to be uniting around the concept that the universe is the creation of space and expansion of time within an infinitesimally tiny point -- a singularity!<br /><br />It is a very difficult exercise to adequately model this idea (either mathematically, graphically or verbally) because multiple dimensions are at work here and any simplification results in substantial information loss.<br /><br /><i>"Will it collapse..."</i><br /><br />The universe seems to be balanced on a razor's edge and there isn't a consensus as to whether we will: 1. Continue to expand forever -- Open Universe Theories; 2. Collapse back into oblivion -- Closed Universe Theories; 3. Undergo some kind of cyclic phenomenon where the universe expands and contracts forever -- Steady State Theories.<br /><br />I'm leaning towards the "Open Universe" model at this time because our best current information seems to indicate that the expansion of the universe is accelorating and no mechanisms have been described that would cause the universe to reverse itself.<br /><br />Of course, new observations may completely change this view, but that's science. <img src="/images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /><br /><br />I would keep an eye on Dark Energy research; this field of study may come up with a more refined explanation about where our universe is headed.