expanding universe question

[jesus_wept]

I've asked this question at an astronomy club I go to a few times and haven't had much of an answer so I thought I'd try here. To see if anyone can answer.

I'm going to try and keep.it simple because the question confuses me.

We're told the universe is expanding and it is the empty space that is expanding, we're also told by quantum physics that there is no such thing as empty space. If this is the case where does all the empty space come from?

It seems like some sort of steady state universe to me, where energy (or whatever it is) must constantly be created to fill the "empty space" and expand the universe, which doesn't make much sense to me.

So, to clarify, my question is where does all the "empty space" come from if the universe is expanding? It just doesn't add up to me.

I hope this makes sense.

[Marsellus Wallace]

The empty space comes from the empty space .

-To infinity and beyond.

[LostLocke]

It's not "empty space" that's expanding, it's just space.

And the space isn't coming from anywhere, it's more like it's stretching.
Kaku likes to use a balloon as an example. When you blow up a balloon even though it's getting bigger, there isn't more rubber being added to it, just the rubber that is already there is stretching.

[jesus_wept]

I'm having trouble with my internet connection at the minute so I'll try and explain what I mean better in a bit.

[Cyberman]

It's not "empty space" that's expanding, it's just space.

And the space isn't coming from anywhere, it's more like it's stretching.
Kaku likes to use a balloon as an example. When you blow up a balloon even though it's getting bigger, there isn't more rubber being added to it, just the rubber that is already there is stretching.

This is why the galaxy clusters are getting further apart from each other. There's no new galaxies forming to fill the gaps.

[FreeTony]

Apparently some Theoretical Physicists think that a theory of everything won't include space or time, and that they are just illusions.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Apparently some Theoretical Physicists think that a theory of everything won't include space or time, and that they are just illusions.

Yes, this is what theoretical physicists think when they're moderately baked.

Boru

[Godscreated]

It's not "empty space" that's expanding, it's just space.

And the space isn't coming from anywhere, it's more like it's stretching.
Kaku likes to use a balloon as an example. When you blow up a balloon even though it's getting bigger, there isn't more rubber being added to it, just the rubber that is already there is stretching.

That seems unreasonable, a deflated balloon has some air in it and to make the balloon expand more air, other gas or liquid must be added to expand the balloon and if to much of these properties are added the balloon burst. I've not seen anyone claiming that the space of the universe will burst.

GC

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

It's not "empty space" that's expanding, it's just space.

And the space isn't coming from anywhere, it's more like it's stretching.
Kaku likes to use a balloon as an example. When you blow up a balloon even though it's getting bigger, there isn't more rubber being added to it, just the rubber that is already there is stretching.

That seems unreasonable, a deflated balloon has some air in it and to make the balloon expand more air, other gas or liquid must be added to expand the balloon and if to much of these properties are added the balloon burst. I've not seen anyone claiming that the space of the universe will burst.

GC

Kaku was using an analogy to explain a rather esoteric concept to laymen. As all analogies are necessarily flawed (otherwise, there would BE no analogies), it is important to remember that the balloon thing was a simple attempt to paint a mental picture. Obviously, the expansion of the universe isn't exactly like the expansion of a toy balloon.

Boru

[pocaracas]

It's not "empty space" that's expanding, it's just space.

And the space isn't coming from anywhere, it's more like it's stretching.
Kaku likes to use a balloon as an example. When you blow up a balloon even though it's getting bigger, there isn't more rubber being added to it, just the rubber that is already there is stretching.

That seems unreasonable, a deflated balloon has some air in it and to make the balloon expand more air, other gas or liquid must be added to expand the balloon and if to much of these properties are added the balloon burst. I've not seen anyone claiming that the space of the universe will burst.

GC

I just saw this in the HoS and just had to come see it for myself!!



WTF, man?!?!?!
Just shut up, if you don't understand the concept. Sometimes, it's great to be introvert, you refrain from letting everyone know that you don't know anything about a given subject!