the big rip

[Chaigidel]

discuss the theory that the universe will tear itself apart with no big crunch--- eventually every particle will be light years away from every other particle


the super acceleration of the universe is taking place and is estimated to occur within 50 billion years until the universe is completely silent.

[Pra]

Well is there enough evidence backing this versus the big crunch or a 'non-ripped' expansion?

[chris_uk_83]

There's evidence that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate, rather than decelerating. This indicates that eventually everything will be so far apart from everything else that they won't be able to see each other. This is generally referred to as 'heat death' rather than a 'big rip', since there's actually no rip taking place. Things just drift apart and go cold.

At the moment it's generally considered that this is the most likely end for the universe, as there is no evidence that a big crunch will ever occur. This is all based on dark matter and dark energy though, so excuse me if I don't commit with certainty to either theory

[Cataclysm]

There's evidence that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate, rather than decelerating. This indicates that eventually everything will be so far apart from everything else that they won't be able to see each other. This is generally referred to as 'heat death' rather than a 'big rip', since there's actually no rip taking place. Things just drift apart and go cold.

At the moment it's generally considered that this is the most likely end for the universe, as there is no evidence that a big crunch will ever occur. This is all based on dark matter and dark energy though, so excuse me if I don't commit with certainty to either theory

It's called the Big Chill and I think it is more likely than the Big Rip. I can see planets and such drifting apart from stars who drift apart from one another, but I don't understand how everything would suddenly rend itself asunder.

[ajm317]

It's called the Big Chill and I think it is more likely than the Big Rip. I can see planets and such drifting apart from stars who drift apart from one another, but I don't understand how everything would suddenly rend itself asunder.

Well the idea is that the expansion of the universe is accelerating (furthermore I actually think the acceleration is allegedly accelerating, so to speak). In other words things are flying apart from each other faster and faster, not slower and slower.

If the space between say the earth and sun expands quickly enough, eventually it will overpower gravity and the earth and sun will fly apart.

By the same token, as things keep flying apart faster and faster eventually electrons will be ripped from atoms. Then, once things get faster still nuclei will be ripped apart, then protons and so on.

[Chaigidel]

I dont think everything will suddenly rend itself asunder it states that the process which pulls things apart-- will probably continue down to the finest levels of particular existance so to say even atoms will eventually feel the grip of this force which pushes the rest of the universe apart.--- its just the theory that the force will continue to act upon all matter and the universe as a whole until it has pulled everything apart down to the last particle.

[chris_uk_83]

Here you go folks, a link to a Wiki article that discusses this. It's all because of dark energy. I wouldn't take this as gospel truth though, it's really only a tentative theory at best. It's one theory that fits the available data, but there must be others too.