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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 16901   
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But we know it isn't infiinite since we have established it is still expanding and even how fast it is expanding.
What I have never been able to understand is, if it is expanding, what is it expanding into? What contains the space that it is moving into? Does my head in, physics at this level! |
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5th Oct 2012 11:11pm |
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| Odin Member Since: 29 Apr 2011 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 237  
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There are boundary conditions in his example which enable the problem to be solved. These are the assumptions that enable physicists etc to model reality using mathematics. Overly simplistic models are quickly solved but are sometimes not realistic and result in over-engineering due to a lack of knowledge or wisdom. This results in scenarios being classed as impossible (ie the bee is too heavy to fly using basic aerodynamic analysis or you can never travel into space...).
To get back to your man's theory, he's only considering 4 balls relative to one another in one axis (how many options are there?) but there's no consideration of distance from one another, and where are they in 3d space over time and gravitational effects between balls resulting in further movement over time etc.... could 3 balls be balanced on top of one - theoretically it's possible but it's assumed to be disallowed. Also remember that distance is an analogue value, not digital, so it can be quoted down to 1 / infinity (so I can always add another order of magnitude to your distance by adding another digit to your number). Reality is more complex than 4 balls. So, the comment is correct given the boundary conditions or controls but can't be applied outside of a question for the pub. Good to think this early on a weekend! |
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6th Oct 2012 8:26am |
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| warren Member Since: 14 Oct 2009 Location: East Lancs. Posts: 903  
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I think you've just blown my mind. But it makes sense, hope I bump into him again next week and I'll put it to him!
On a similar subject, anyone else enjoy star gazing? I find it strangely relaxing, I have no idea what the constellations are called, and due to artificial light spoiling things it's not as good staring at the sky round town. On the way back from Whitby back in the summer we stopped off at the Hole of Horcum - no artificial light for miles around - and just stared at the sky. Like a magic eye, the more you look the more you see (except it's nothing like a magic eye as I can stare at them for ages and not see anything). But it's pretty amazing to think that all those stars are billions and billions of miles away, and could have their own planets orbiting them... Also amazing... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0 |
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6th Oct 2012 7:04pm |
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| AndyS Member Since: 18 Aug 2012 Location: London Posts: 595 
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We went to an observatory in NZ and the air was so clean you could see satellites passing over head. It gave an amazing view of the Milky Way. I did read that there's a spot in Scotland that has a very dark sky, I'd love to pop up to see it (as it'd be a bloody site easier than going to NZ).
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6th Oct 2012 7:42pm |
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| Odin Member Since: 29 Apr 2011 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 237
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Galloway Forrest.
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6th Oct 2012 8:20pm |
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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006 
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Something else to consider, as the universe is expanding like we are told it is then given that this rate of expansion is linear, we should be getting further away from the Sun but we don't because everything is expanding at the same rate so relatively we stay in position. Therefore I must be empirically bigger now than I ever have been but I cannot measure the change as everything around me use also bigger than it ever has been. So if I extend that thought I will continue to get bigger over time, so I can eat as much McDonald's as I want guilt free as the universe is making me fat all by its self! I love science, me. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
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7th Oct 2012 6:55am |
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| Odin Member Since: 29 Apr 2011 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 237
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Expanding linearly in one direction, or along one axis, or along 3, or spherically? Back to balls again. Either way that's even more big Macs!
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7th Oct 2012 7:50am |
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| warren Member Since: 14 Oct 2009 Location: East Lancs. Posts: 903
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Was looking up here today... Trying to see if I can squeeze one last adventure in Big Black before it (if it ever!!) sells. Looks pretty awesome! |
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8th Oct 2012 11:07pm |
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