Re: Is the universe infinite or finite?

Dear Jeff Root:

"Jeff Root" <jeff5@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1134432224.298616.32220@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> David A. Smith wrote:
>
>> What does infinite mean to you? Does it mean to travel
>> forever (at any speed) without hitting an edge? The
>> answer is likely "yes". If it means that the Universe has
>> infinite volume at any instant, the answer may be "no".
>> Consider that a racetrack meets the first definition of
>> "infinite".
>
> Nobody would think that a racetrack is infinite just
> because one could travel round and round it forever.
>
> Nobody is a kook, and he's the *only* kook who would
> think that. All the other kooks disagree with him!

You really should be a little more circumspect in calling people
kook, Jeff. You may end up offending the OP.

As to your claim, notice that the balloon analogy is a 2D version
of the racetrack, in which it also describes an infinite
Universe, as long as you stick to the surface. The fact that
expansion increases any circumference (great circle) faster than
c, is simply icing on the cake (in my opinion).

Now will you call everyone who invokes the balloon analogy a kook
also? I'd be in really great company if you did that.

David A. Smith


.

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