July 14th, 2024

Why doesn't the expanding Universe break the speed of light?

The Universe expands as space itself changes, not objects moving. Governed by the Hubble constant, expansion decreases as matter and radiation densities drop, while dark energy remains constant, allowing expansion without violating the speed of light.

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Why doesn't the expanding Universe break the speed of light?

The expanding Universe does not break the speed of light limit due to the way space itself changes. Despite the fact that distant galaxies appear to be moving faster than the speed of light, it is the space between objects that is expanding, not the objects themselves moving through space. This expansion is governed by the Hubble constant, which determines the rate at which space is expanding. As the Universe expands, matter and radiation densities decrease, causing the expansion rate to drop. However, the energy inherent to space itself, known as dark energy, remains constant as new space is created. This dynamic interplay between matter, radiation, and dark energy allows the Universe to expand without violating the speed of light or the laws of relativity. Understanding the expanding Universe requires delving into the principles of general relativity and how spacetime evolves, challenging common-sense notions of motion and distance in a dynamic cosmic fabric.

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Link Icon 4 comments
By @notepad0x90 - 7 months
because the speed of light is really the speed of information, much like the clock-speed of the processor if the universe was a simulation.
By @tonetegeatinst - 7 months
Speeding tickets in this universe are not fair.....that's clearly why.
By @JackSlateur - 7 months
Feels like good scifi : interesting, clever sometime, but still made up