The Universe is Flat
The idea that the universe is flat might sound as outdated as the belief that the Earth is flat. In the 1400s and earlier, people were convinced by the simple evidence before them that the Earth was flat. Despite other possible conclusions, the common thinking was the simplest answer they understood: the Earth is flat.
Today, physics often seems to follow a similar pattern of group thinking. The prevailing notion is that the universe is flat. As I delve into this topic, you’ll see why I question this idea and highlight the lack of exploration into the obvious questions.
Let’s start at the beginning. Modern physics considers the Big Bang as the start of the universe. In those first few moments, there was only energy—some form of pure energy. We don’t have a measurement for this energy without referencing our matter-based universe. We use Electron Volts, which are based on the existence of electrons. However, electrons and Electron Volts didn’t exist before the Planck Epoch. So, what was the energy like before electrons existed?
We always describe the universe based on the matter and forces we know: quantum particles, gravity, electromagnetism, nuclear strong and weak forces. But what was happening before these existed?
After the Big Bang, the universe was incredibly small, dense, and composed of pure energy. But why did it expand? What force or mechanism caused the universe to expand? At this point, there was no matter, no gravity, and none of the forces described in physics. So, why did the fabric of the universe expand? What caused this expansion?
I’ve looked into various sources, such as the “Chronology of the Universe” on Wikipedia and “The Early Universe – Planck Epoch” on whillyard.com, but I can’t find a clear explanation of why the early universe expanded. What is the model, the math, or the theory behind this expansion?
Moving past the very beginning, matter as we understand it started to appear after the Planck Epoch. The density of the universe at the Planck Epoch (around (10^{-12}) seconds) is estimated at (10^{92}) kg. This encompasses everything in the universe. For comparison, the mass of a large stellar black hole is about (6 \times 10^{31}) kg. A black hole can form from a star three times the mass of our sun, which is minuscule compared to the entire universe. So, why didn’t the early universe turn into a black hole?
Why didn’t we all become part of a black hole? One explanation is that the fabric of the universe was expanding too fast to form a black hole. But this circles back to the question: why was the fabric of the universe expanding? What are the physics behind this?
I can’t find a satisfactory explanation, theory, or model for why the fabric of space is expanding. This expansion is still happening today, as discovered by Dr. Hubble in the early 20th century, and is observed as the red shift, with everything moving away from everything else. But why? How? There is much more to discuss here, but that will be for another blog.
Think about it. I don’t have all the answers. I might be confused, missing key information, or simply not seeing the full picture. Do your research and draw your own conclusions. The fact that I can’t find answers to why the universe isn’t a black hole and why the fabric of the universe is expanding doesn’t mean you won’t find them. The answers aren’t easily available because we tend to focus on what we can easily explain, and thus, the Universe is Flat (UIF).
In my next blog, I’ll discuss antimatter, a specific part of the early universe model, and the issues physicists have with the standard model. Due to the UIF, there is no consensus on antimatter.
This is part two of my exploration of the early universe. I’m not done with questions yet.
