The Universe Is Expanding (1924 - 1929)

The Universe Is Expanding (1924 — 1929)

An Astronomer at Caltech by the name Edwin Hubble in 1929 made a renowned discovery that answered some of the questions posed in science. The discovery indicated that the universe was actually expanding. His calculations considered distances between the earth and the nearby galaxies; he indicated that the further away galaxies were flying away from the earth. This paper reflects at the discovery made on 1924-1929 touching on the expanding universe.

Ancient Greeks were intrigued reflecting that the universe could be infinite or at the same time finite. Imagination of edges on the face of the earth were confusing, the scenario presented a paradox (Fox,1997). Scientists at the earlier times argued that the earth was either finite or infinite, although the results of both models had diverse problems. Times have changed with modernization and socialization. A number of recognized astronomers are Heinrich Olbers of Germany, Isaac Newton, Einstein and Vesto Slipher.

Edwin Hubble was a mathematician and a physicist working on the theory of gravity by Einstein. Hubble discovered mathematical equations that explained on expanding earth (Sharov & Novikov, 2003). It was noted that the light emitted by distance objects were redshifted as the distance objects traveled through the universe that was expanding. It was noted that the redshift increased with every increment in the distance directed to the object.

It was noted that Edwin Hubble in 1929 while at Pasadena, California at Carnegie Observations. Hubble calculated redshifts associated with distance galaxies. Hubble also went ahead in calculating relative distances which was carried out through calculating the apparent brightness of Cepheids, which is class associated with variable stars associated with particulate galaxy; after the redshift was plotted, in which the plotting was done against relative distances, it was noted that redshift associated distant galaxies showed an increment as a linear function in consideration of the relative distances. Hubble went ahead in proving that the universe was actually experiencing expansions (Datnow, 1997).

Scientists according to the arguments of Hubble discovered that the initial universe was smaller and it is believed that the universe originated from one single point; a point that was referred to as the big bang, in which the beginning of the universe came to existence. The arguments of Hubble indicated that the universe was finite in space and time (Dickinson, 2012). Difficult questions were raised on the reasons why the universe did not collapse. Stability of the universe was supported by the equations of Einstein and Newton. It has been proved that the universe is facing constant change. Hubble’s arguments answered many questions posed by the earlier astronomers in the period earlier than the twentieth century (Hubble, 2013).

Expanding universe has a number of properties basing on a number of equations, the three solutions ends up with diverse eventual fate of the universe. It is not sure exactly which fate that will be faced by the universe. The fate of the universe is expressed in relations to the matter contained in the universe and the rate of universe’s expansion. The fate of the universe is expressed in the form of closed universe, open universe and flat universe (Christianson, 1995).

There are high beliefs that if the universe was actually open, then the universe will expand forever; and if the universe was flat, there are high chances that the universe will also expand forever although the expansion rate would near zero after infinite time. It is argued that if the universe was closed, then there are high possibilities of the universe re-collapsing and stop expanding, which would result to another big bang. It is estimated that along the three arguments on the expansion of the universe, it is believed that the forces of the gravity slows the expansions (Skyserver.sdss.org, 2013).

Expansions are expressed in the light of a space shift launched from the earth, the spaceshift must have massive force in order to overcome the force of gravity, and else the spaceshift will fall back at the earth. If the spaceshift has energy to only escape the earth’s surface, it is expected that it could halt at the infinite distance according to the flat universe argument. According to the open universe argument, it is believed that the spaceshift will always have speed even after overcoming the earth’s gravity (Trefil & Aldrin, 2012).

The universe’s fate has been an issue according to the astronomers. The scientists have been concerned on rate of the universe’s expansion and the average density in which the universe can hold. An example is the Sloan Digital Sky Survey which holds massive data on galaxy density. The fate of the universe is not known although there are a number of theories explaining the same. Existence of the universe according to Hubble is subject to the constant changes, the physical state of the universe is ever changing (Bartusiak, 2009). Other areas of research identify with radiation and variations in density.

Astronomers for more than thousands of years have been actively struggling with concepts of age and size of the universe. Common questions asked were based on whether the universe had an edge somewhere or the universe was continuous forever. There were also questions on whether the universe has existed all through, or it came to existence spontaneously (Cosmology.carnegiescience.edu, 2013). Edwin Hubble’s discovered answered majority of the questions posed by the astronomers.

References

Bartusiak, M. (2009). The Day We Found the Universe. New York: Pantheon.

Christianson, G. E. (1995). Edwin Hubble: Mariner of the Nebulae. New York: Farrar Straus & Giroux (T).

Cosmology.carnegiescience.edu. (2013). 1929: Edwin Hubble Discovers the Universe is Expanding. Retrieved November 8, 2013, from Cosmology.carnegiescience.edu: http://cosmology.carnegiescience.edu/timeline/1929

Datnow, C. L. (1997). Edwin Hubble: Discoverer of Galaxies. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Pub Inc.

Dickinson, T. (2012). Hubble‘s Universe: Greatest Discoveries and Latest Images . New York: Firefly Books.

Fox, M. V. (1997). Edwin Hubble: American Astronomer. London: Franklin Watts.

Hubble, E. (2013). Hubble finds proof that the universe is expanding. Retrieved November 8, 2013, from Pbs.org: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/dp29hu.html

Sharov, A. & Novikov, I. (2003). Edwin Hubble, The Discoverer of the Big Bang Universe . Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.

Skyserver.sdss.org. (2013). The Expanding Universe. Retrieved November 08, 2013, from Skyserver.sdss.org: http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr1/en/astro/universe/universe.asp

Trefil, J. & Aldrin, B. (2012). Space Atlas: Mapping the Universe and Beyond. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic .