From: J. R. Molloy (jr@shasta.com)
Date: Thu May 07 1998 - 20:28:26 MDT
From: ChuckKuecker <ckuecker@mcs.net>
>That is a pretty problem. Space is what
we live in - if it is expanding,
>what do we measure it against? If space
expands, everything in space should
>expand as well.
Hi Chuck,
Maybe this can help:
An expanding universe has no point of
reference with which to measure its
expansion, that much seems apparent.
Now, try this tiny experiment. Imagine
that some force (a heavy press of some
kind) pushes down upon your body. As the
pressure increases, you feel (if you
approximate human existence) some
discomfort. Increasing pressure elicits
increasing discomfort to you.
Now, pressure does not necessarily
equate to discomfort as a general
universal law of existence.
Nevertheless, you may see the connection
in the experiment above. Likewise, an
expanding universe has no way of
measuring its own expansion, except as a
measure of its relative size compared to
earlier versions of itself.
It makes me happy to think that this may
offer some entertainment, if not
clarification.
Cheers,
J R
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