Delzac said:From what i heard(from my brother by the way), Einstein once predicted that the universe is spherifical( i don't know if it is true or not), is the universe really spherical??
if so, then what lies outside our universe??
selfAdjoint said:Your brother oversimplified what Einstein thought. He thought the universe was "finite but unbounded", and an analogy for this is the surface of a sphere (such as the Earth) which has a finite area but has no boundary. Einstein's theory does not itself predict the shape of the universe, but modern discoveries and measurements suggest that in the large scale it has a "flat" geometry which would argue that it is infinite in extent, but nobody really knows.
It is not necessary to have anything "outside the universe" in either Einstein's original thought or the modern understanding. We are used to seeing spheres - balls - in three space but that is no reason to suppose the universe behaves that way, and the mathematics does just fine without it.
Silverbackman said:So is it generally accepted that the universe is most likelly infinite if it is flat?
The shape of the universe is a topic of great interest and debate among scientists and astronomers. Currently, the most widely accepted theory is that the universe is flat, meaning it has a Euclidean geometry and is infinite in size. However, there are also theories that suggest the universe may have a curved shape, such as a sphere or a saddle shape.
There are several methods that scientists use to determine the shape of the universe. One common method is by measuring the cosmic microwave background radiation, which is a remnant of the early universe. By analyzing the patterns and fluctuations in this radiation, scientists can gather evidence for the shape of the universe. Other methods include observing the movement and distribution of galaxies and studying the effects of gravitational lensing.
The shape of the universe is not constant and can change over time. According to the theory of cosmic inflation, the universe underwent a rapid expansion in the first fraction of a second after the Big Bang. This expansion may have caused the overall shape of the universe to change. Additionally, the amount of dark energy in the universe, which is responsible for its expansion, can also affect the shape of the universe.
Yes, the shape of the universe can have implications for its future. For example, if the universe is flat, it will continue to expand forever. However, if the universe is closed and has a spherical shape, it will eventually reach a maximum size and then begin to contract in a "Big Crunch." The shape of the universe also has implications for the fate of the universe and the potential for multiple universes.
While there is currently no definitive answer, scientists continue to study and gather evidence to determine the exact shape of the universe. With advancements in technology and new theories and discoveries, we may one day have a better understanding of the shape of the universe and our place within it.