- #1
robbierobb
- 5
- 1
So, this is a bit of an odd question, but something I was curious about. I recently learned in layman's terms that the universe is considered flat because of how we measure triangles in 3D space, in particular the CMB. I've also learned that the cosmological constant that was derived from GR predicts how much dark energy there is driving the anti gravity force that helps keep the universe flat.
But GR also tells us one important point, that space can be curved by mass. So on one hand GR is telling us that the universe is flat, but on the other hand it is also telling us that mass curves space. So this doesn't make sense, to me anyway, because how can you measure a perfectly flat triangle in a positively or negatively curved region of space?
So is that somehow related? Is the curvature of space somehow related to the flatness of the universe? And is the influence that mass has on the fabric of space correlated to the amount of dark energy required to keep the universe flat? Is this why the universe is accelerating? Because mass is forever causing more and more curvature that needs correcting with dark energy?
But GR also tells us one important point, that space can be curved by mass. So on one hand GR is telling us that the universe is flat, but on the other hand it is also telling us that mass curves space. So this doesn't make sense, to me anyway, because how can you measure a perfectly flat triangle in a positively or negatively curved region of space?
So is that somehow related? Is the curvature of space somehow related to the flatness of the universe? And is the influence that mass has on the fabric of space correlated to the amount of dark energy required to keep the universe flat? Is this why the universe is accelerating? Because mass is forever causing more and more curvature that needs correcting with dark energy?
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