Difference between revisions of "Universe"
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The [[universe]] is everything there is in regards to material existence. | The [[universe]] is everything there is in regards to material existence. | ||
| − | + | Many scientists believe that the universe erupted into being from a [[singularity]] approximately 14 billion years ago, and [[Big Bang Theory|has been expanding]] ever since. A recent calculation placed the visible universe at about 156 billion [[light year]]s across creating a dilemma of faster than light speed movement, but it is speculated that the expansion of space itself can exceed the [[speed of light]] even if the objects within it moving on their own can not.<ref>Universe Measured: We're 156 Billion Light-years Wide! <i>Space.com</i> [http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mystery_monday_040524.html]</ref>. As an analogy, imagine ants (galaxies), sitting on an elastic rubber cord. that can't walk faster than 20cm/s. So normally two ants moving away from each other could not exceed a speed of 40cm/s relative towards each other (speed of light). However, if the cord itself is pulled while the ants are moving (expansion of space), the ants' speed can be greater. | |
For any location in space, it appears that that location is at the center of the expansion of the universe. | For any location in space, it appears that that location is at the center of the expansion of the universe. | ||
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== Young Earth Creationism View == | == Young Earth Creationism View == | ||
| − | [[Young earth creationism|Young earth creationists]] hold that the [[earth]] and universe are approximately 6,000 years old. Young earth creationist scientists state that | + | [[Young earth creationism|Young earth creationists]] hold that the [[earth]] and universe are approximately 6,000 years old. Young earth creationist scientists state that there are multiple lines of evidence pointing to a young earth and universe; the old earth and universe [[paradigm]] has numerous [[anomaly|anomalies]] and uses invalid dating methods, and there are multiple citations in the secular science literature that corroborate the implausibility of the old earth and universe paradigm (for details see: [[Young earth creationism|young earth creationism]]). |
While there are differences in regard to the age of the universe, there is not necessarily a difference in viewpoint in regard to its size. For most Young earth creationists, the universe is as large as God wanted to make it. If that's calculated at 156 billion light years, then so be it. | While there are differences in regard to the age of the universe, there is not necessarily a difference in viewpoint in regard to its size. For most Young earth creationists, the universe is as large as God wanted to make it. If that's calculated at 156 billion light years, then so be it. | ||
Revision as of 00:55, November 1, 2007
The universe is everything there is in regards to material existence.
Many scientists believe that the universe erupted into being from a singularity approximately 14 billion years ago, and has been expanding ever since. A recent calculation placed the visible universe at about 156 billion light years across creating a dilemma of faster than light speed movement, but it is speculated that the expansion of space itself can exceed the speed of light even if the objects within it moving on their own can not.[1]. As an analogy, imagine ants (galaxies), sitting on an elastic rubber cord. that can't walk faster than 20cm/s. So normally two ants moving away from each other could not exceed a speed of 40cm/s relative towards each other (speed of light). However, if the cord itself is pulled while the ants are moving (expansion of space), the ants' speed can be greater.
For any location in space, it appears that that location is at the center of the expansion of the universe.
This concept can best be explained through the "balloon analogy": imagine you are a random spot on a spotted balloon, when someone inflates the balloon you'll see the spots moving away from you, so it would seem you are at the center of the expansion, furthermore the further away the spots are the faster they move away from you, this is also true for the universe: the more distant a galaxy is, the faster it moves away from us.
Currently scientists are only able to account for 4% of the matter in the universe, though new theories of dark matter recently emerged to account for this.[2]
Young Earth Creationism View
Young earth creationists hold that the earth and universe are approximately 6,000 years old. Young earth creationist scientists state that there are multiple lines of evidence pointing to a young earth and universe; the old earth and universe paradigm has numerous anomalies and uses invalid dating methods, and there are multiple citations in the secular science literature that corroborate the implausibility of the old earth and universe paradigm (for details see: young earth creationism).
While there are differences in regard to the age of the universe, there is not necessarily a difference in viewpoint in regard to its size. For most Young earth creationists, the universe is as large as God wanted to make it. If that's calculated at 156 billion light years, then so be it.
References
- ↑ Universe Measured: We're 156 Billion Light-years Wide! Space.com [1]
- ↑ Where is the rest of the universe?