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ddjj77
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It's been said that the universe is flat. How can it be flat if flatness has no volume?
ddjj77 said:It's been said that the universe is flat. How can it be flat if flatness has no volume?
ddjj77 said:Maybe "flat" isn't the right term; 2-dimensional would be more accurate (see attached image). What would you call a shape with no thickness? Volumeless?
ddjj77 said:I thought flat was flat.
Krauss said "..it's open, closed, or flat."
PeroK said:PS Lawrence Krauss explains this right at the start of his lecture here:
This is a common question that has been asked by scientists and non-scientists alike. The answer is not a simple yes or no, as the concept of "flatness" in the universe is a complex and debated topic among researchers.
In the context of cosmology, a flat universe means that the curvature of space-time is zero. This can be visualized as a sheet of paper, where parallel lines never meet and the angles of a triangle add up to 180 degrees.
There are several methods used to measure the curvature of the universe, such as studying the cosmic microwave background radiation or analyzing the distribution of galaxies. These observations can give insights into the overall shape of the universe and its curvature.
Some scientists argue that a flat universe is the most likely scenario based on current observations and theories, such as inflationary cosmology. However, others propose alternative theories that suggest a non-flat universe, such as a positively or negatively curved universe.
The flatness of the universe is a key parameter in many cosmological models and can have implications for the fate of the universe. For example, a flat or nearly flat universe supports the idea of a constant expansion rate and a potential "heat death" of the universe in the distant future.