What is the term for the area where the universe has

[Olin]

Not expanded into yet?  Everyone says that the universe is expanding, but what is it expanding into

[Strange]

It is not expanding into anything. It is either infinite or finite but unbounded. 

[Menan]

36 minutes ago, Strange said:

It is not expanding into anything. It is either infinite or finite but unbounded. 

Now you claim that the universe is not expanding?  Explain

[Strange]

1 minute ago, Menan said:

Now you claim that the universe is not expanding?  Explain

It is expanding. But not  INTO anything.

(That would imply there was something outside the universe. But if there were something "outside", then  that would be part of the universe.)

It may be easier to visualise it as the universe cooling and getting less dense.

[Menan]

Just now, Strange said:

It is expanding. But not  INTO anything.

(That would imply there was something outside the universe. But if there were something "outside", then  that would be part of the universe.)

It may be easier to visualise it as the universe cooling and getting less dense.

That makes no sense, though I have heard it before.  I term the universe as the area containing the expansion.  You seem to be implying that the expanded area creates the area where it expands into as it expands.  That's pure nonsense and gives godlike properties to the expanding area of matter.  So the area is clearly there, before the expanded matter gets there. 

[Strange]

1 minute ago, Menan said:

I term the universe as the area containing the expansion. 

That is (as far as we know) the entire universe.

2 minutes ago, Menan said:

So the area is clearly there, before the expanded matter gets there

It is not a case of matter expanding into empty space. The universe has always been completely full of matter. As the universe expands, that matter becomes cooler and less dense (basic thermodynamics).

[StringJunky]

1 hour ago, Menan said:

Now you claim that the universe is not expanding?  Explain

Where gravity is weak enough for dark energy to prevail, the space between superclusters of galaxies is increasing. This increase in distance results in a net expansion of the universe. It is not occurring like an explosion, with a leading on the outside. Space (volume) is created between the superclusters.

[Strange]

16 minutes ago, StringJunky said:

Space (volume) is created between the superclusters.

And, just to emphasise the fact that space is not “stuff” being created, we mean space is being created like when you have a party and push all the furniture to the edges of the room to create more space (ie distance between things). 

[swansont]

!

Moderator Note

Posts violating rule 1.1 (and the replies) have been dropped in the trash can