Topic: OT: My 9yr old son asked me a question I cannot answer. Can you? (Read 3511 times)

Dizzy · « **on:** August 25, 2006, 04:25:49 am »

After watching me play a battle on the server he started off talking about the speed of light. He said he knew it went 186k miles a sec or so and that the universe was 14 billion or so years old... (I think he watches the discovery channel) and so he says we can generally figure out that there's an edge to the universe if it started in a big bang and accelerated outward at the speed of light. So somewhere there is an edge to the universe. What's on the other side, dad?

I have no idea I said...

He then goes on to say that if there is warp speed and a ship could travel faster than light forever, then someday it would reach the edge of the universe. What happens when it goes over the edge?

That's some deep stuff for a 9yr old huh?

KAT Chuut-Ritt · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2006, 05:09:50 am »

The universe has no edge it is like an expanding ballon, and a ballon has no edge.

As to what lies beyond the universe the answer may be the fifth dimension.

Check out the web for the term "Ekpyrotic Universe" and you will see what I'm referring to.

Dizzy · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2006, 05:46:03 am »

The 'edge' would be the surface of the ballon. So what's on the outside of our 'ballon'?

KAT Chuut-Ritt · « **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2006, 06:02:44 am »

Quote from: dizzy on August 25, 2006, 05:46:03 am

The 'edge' would be the surface of the ballon. So what's on the outside of our 'ballon'?

The outside of a ballon isn't really and edge per se, but as for what is on the outside, like i said is the fifth dimension.

Perhaps the "big bang was really something like this

as for the Fifth dimesion perhaps this:

Personally, Ive always thought that death might be the fifth dimension, or perhaps thought. I'll find out for sure in the next 50 years or so.

Skaren · « **Reply #4 on:** August 25, 2006, 08:11:01 am »

The problem with the balloon theory is that if you travel long enough you would come back to where you start.

That causes an issue in my mind.

I would say it is one of the great mysteries that mankind is still trying to understand, and encourage him into math and science

Green · « **Reply #5 on:** August 25, 2006, 06:16:26 pm »

The answer is we don't know. But I did find a site that basically echoed that (in a much better way) from Goddard.

http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ask_astro/answers/010902a.html

Dfly · « **Reply #6 on:** August 25, 2006, 06:31:18 pm »

I have a theory about the ballon theory. Let's say it is an expanding balloon. WE ARE ON THE OUTSIDE(not the inside). If someone ever could travel all the way around it, like the earth, you would end up in the same place, only not the same timeline, so it could be dramatically changed to the point where you no longer recognize it. Why: because it is continually expanding faster than we can get there.

Rolling · « **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2006, 10:05:18 pm »

Well, some would say that the universe is flat and we would fall of the edge if we got too close to it.

I say that we would find New America once we got past all of the space monsters.

KBF-Kapact · « **Reply #8 on:** August 25, 2006, 10:57:04 pm »

Quote from: KAT Chuut-Ritt on August 25, 2006, 05:09:50 am

The universe has no edge it is like an expanding ballon, and a ballon has no edge.

As to what lies beyond the universe the answer may be the fifth dimension.

Check out the web for the term "Ekpyrotic Universe" and you will see what I'm referring to.

The balloon theory was echoed by Stephen Hawking. So you're in excellent company.

Rod ONeal · « **Reply #9 on:** August 26, 2006, 12:39:25 am »

The really scary thought is that dizzy has reproduced!

Dizzy · « **Reply #10 on:** August 26, 2006, 01:10:35 am »

You're all screwed when he asks me what an online persona is... Muhahahahaha! >>> Dizzy Jr.

Soliton · « **Reply #11 on:** August 26, 2006, 05:27:03 am »

Quote from: Dfly-L-RM on August 25, 2006, 06:31:18 pm

I have a theory about the ballon theory.

The stuff about a balloon isn't a theory; it is an analogy. It is to try to aid in grasping what something that is finite yet unbounded would be like. Like all analogies, it is less than perfect.

If you could take a spaceship and travel super fast and so then get 'Outside the universe' as it were, you'd just be pushing the boundaries of the universe outward as you would have done this feat with material and energy gained from within the universe. We are in a big hole and there is no climbing out no matter how hard we push on the sides.

"Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine." - Sir Arthur Eddington

Age · « **Reply #12 on:** August 26, 2006, 05:05:13 pm »

Quote from: KAT Chuut-Ritt on August 25, 2006, 05:09:50 am

The universe has no edge it is like an expanding ballon, and a ballon has no edge.

As to what lies beyond the universe the answer may be the fifth dimension.

Check out the web for the term "Ekpyrotic Universe" and you will see what I'm referring to.

Yes then one day it will collapse on to it self.

KAT Chuut-Ritt · « **Reply #13 on:** August 27, 2006, 04:16:55 am »

Quote from: Age on August 26, 2006, 05:05:13 pm

Quote from: KAT Chuut-Ritt on August 25, 2006, 05:09:50 am
The universe has no edge it is like an expanding ballon, and a ballon has no edge.

As to what lies beyond the universe the answer may be the fifth dimension.

Check out the web for the term "Ekpyrotic Universe" and you will see what I'm referring to.
Yes then one day it will collapse on to it self.

But not as long as Dizzy is alive, all his hot air will keep it safely inflated.

Dizzy · « **Reply #14 on:** August 27, 2006, 04:31:48 am »

Quote from: KAT Chuut-Ritt on August 27, 2006, 04:16:55 am

Quote from: Age on August 26, 2006, 05:05:13 pm
Quote from: KAT Chuut-Ritt on August 25, 2006, 05:09:50 am
The universe has no edge it is like an expanding ballon, and a ballon has no edge.

As to what lies beyond the universe the answer may be the fifth dimension.

Check out the web for the term "Ekpyrotic Universe" and you will see what I'm referring to.
Yes then one day it will collapse on to it self.

But not as long as Dizzy is alive, all his hot air will keep it safely inflated.

Bonk · « **Reply #15 on:** August 27, 2006, 07:33:15 am »

Quote from: dizzy on August 25, 2006, 04:25:49 am

So somewhere there is an edge to the universe. What's on the other side, dad?

Simple...

Try this out on him, two options:

1) The infinite void.

2) Whatever we decide to create there.

3) The big bang concept is totally wrong and something else entirely is going on. (which does not really exclude option two... human observation of the universe is currently limited to the speed of light, therefore it is natural that we perceive the universe as some kind of expanding sphere with us at the center... As long as we limit ourselves to the observation of electromagnetic energy we simply cannot possibly know the true nature of the universe) OK, three options.

While option two is more fun to contemplate, it is complicated by the fact that once we have created something there then it is no longer beyond the edge of the universe is it? (As Soliton has described one possible case of above.)

The universe is currently bounded only by human conception, this is the awesome power we have, I can only dream that one day its potential is truly realised.

However, the universe of the self must be leveraged correctly to gain a proper perspective on the extracorporeal universe. Which is not nearly as simple as it sounds and is likely the current true limit on our universe.

Sounds like a great kid there Diz.

"Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is what we imagine." - Bonk

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropic_principle

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0192821474/

Dizzy · « **Reply #16 on:** August 27, 2006, 10:56:40 am »

I'm going to read him your post bonk... I think he will quite enjoy hearing that. Powerful stuff! Well said and I dig your quote.

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