Special relativity and Universe expansion.

In summary, the conversation discusses the expansion of the universe and the speed at which it is expanding. The concept of Special Relativity and General Relativity are mentioned, with the latter explaining the expansion of the universe. The Hubble Law is also brought up, which can result in objects receding faster than the speed of light. However, there is no paradox as these objects are receding with spacetime, but their peculiar velocity remains subluminal. The conversation also mentions the three versions of the expansion of the universe according to Friedmann, with one of them having a limit to the expansion. The analogy of a 2D world on an expanding sphere is used to explain the concept of relative speed and acceleration in relation to the expansion
  • #1
mprm86
52
0
I have heard that the Universe is expanding, and the longer is the distance between two bodies, so the greater will be the speed of expansion. So, my question is: If two bodies were far enough, so tehy could reach c or even go faster? (i guess there is no limit for Universe expansion). I know I´m not a genius, and i haven't discovered some paradox or somewhat, so, help me please and explain me what really happens. Thanks. :-p
 
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  • #2
Hi, bienvenido
don't mix the concepts Special Relativity and Universe expansion, because Special Relativity is a theory that has as foreground a Minkowski space, that is a non-expanding space. The expansion can be modeled with General Relativity, that has Special Relativity as a special case. In GR, there are objects receding faster than c, because with Hubble Law
v=H*D
where D is proper distance, H the Hubble parameter, you can obtain recession velocities v greater than c. But there's no paradox because in the frame of reference of the observer there's no superluminal velocity observed. They are receding with spacetime, but their peculiar velocity inside spacetime remains subluminal
 
  • #3
mprm86 said:
i guess there is no limit for Universe expansion Thanks. :-p
I think there is some thing wrong with that.
There are 3 versions of the expansion of the Universe according to Friedmann.1 of them states that we begin with Big BAng and finish with Big Crunch.Therefore, we definitely have the limit of the expansion(if the theory is right.)
 
  • #4
Picture it this way: A 2d world on an expanding sphere.

According to any person on that world, everything else is getting farther away. Someone who starts off moving at 5 kph relative away from some other person, and doesn't accelerate afterwards, will observer the relative speed as actually increasing! (at least until they went all the way around the sphere and were actually moving towards)
 

FAQ: Special relativity and Universe expansion.

What is special relativity?

Special relativity is a theory developed by Albert Einstein in the early 20th century to describe the relationship between space and time. It states that the laws of physics are the same for all observers in uniform motion, and that the speed of light is constant for all observers regardless of their relative motion. This theory has been extensively tested and proven to be an accurate description of the physical world.

How does special relativity explain the Universe's expansion?

Special relativity does not directly explain the expansion of the Universe. However, it is a fundamental part of the broader theory of general relativity, which does explain the expansion. General relativity states that the fabric of spacetime is curved by the presence of matter and energy, and this curvature is what causes the expansion of the Universe.

What is the difference between special relativity and general relativity?

Special relativity deals with the relationship between space and time in the absence of gravity, while general relativity includes the effects of gravity on the fabric of spacetime. Special relativity is a special case of general relativity, applying only to objects in uniform motion, while general relativity applies to all objects, including those affected by gravity.

How is the expansion of the Universe measured?

The expansion of the Universe is measured using a variety of methods, including the redshift of distant galaxies, the cosmic microwave background radiation, and observations of the large-scale structure of the Universe. These measurements provide evidence for the expansion of the Universe and its rate of expansion, known as the Hubble constant.

Can special relativity be applied to objects in the Universe that are moving at or near the speed of light?

Yes, special relativity can be applied to objects moving at or near the speed of light. This theory predicts how time, length, and mass are affected by an object's motion at high speeds, and it has been confirmed by numerous experiments and observations. However, general relativity is needed to fully understand the behavior of objects moving at extremely high speeds near massive objects, such as black holes.

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