Inflationary Theory ; I'm confused

From: Rob Dekker (rob_at_verific.com)
Date: 01/18/05 

Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 10:45:24 GMT

Over the past couple of years, I've read various articles
about the Big Bang Theory. Part of that is a theory
proposed by Groth, which states that the early Universe went
through a period of very rapid expansion called 'inflation'.

I understand that the inflation theory was
invented to explain the 'flat-ness' of space and the
MBR isotropy (microwave background indicates that
the early Universe had a very consistent high temperature).

I am confused about this inflationary period.

I've read somewhere that the Universe expanded to
a size of 40 million light years within a miniscule time.
This would clearly violate the limitation of the speed
of light.

I don't see why a speed-of-light violation would be needed :
Why would there be any observable difference between
a Universe expanding at speed of light and a Universe
that expands faster than that ?

I've read somewhere else that the Universe expanded
from almost a point to (only) 1 meter in size after the
inflatory period of 10^-32 sec. But a 1 meter ball of fire
would probably be very consistent in temperature, which
was the original reason to invent inflation theory.

So either way (1 meter or 40 million light-years) I don't
see what inflation theory is actually explaining beyond
a Universe which expands at light speed.

Can anyone shed some light on this ?

Thanks

Rob

Relevant Pages

  • Inflationary Theory ; Im confused
    ... the early Universe had a very consistent high temperature). ... a Universe expanding at speed of light and a Universe ... But a 1 meter ball of fire ... was the original reason to invent inflation theory. ...
    (sci.astro)
  • Inflationary Theory ; Im confused
    ... the early Universe had a very consistent high temperature). ... a Universe expanding at speed of light and a Universe ... But a 1 meter ball of fire ... was the original reason to invent inflation theory. ...
    (sci.physics)
  • Re: Inflationary Theory ; Im confused
    ... >the early Universe had a very consistent high temperature). ... mean that space itself can't expand faster than light. ... >a Universe expanding at speed of light and a Universe ... >was the original reason to invent inflation theory. ...
    (sci.physics)
  • Re: Inflationary Theory ; Im confused
    ... >the early Universe had a very consistent high temperature). ... mean that space itself can't expand faster than light. ... >a Universe expanding at speed of light and a Universe ... >was the original reason to invent inflation theory. ...
    (sci.astro)
  • Re: The 13.7 billion light-year length denotes a fifth spatial dimension.
    ... WMAP's March 2006 polarity data is consistent with an ever constant lambda, ... The observable universe was Planck length 13.7 billion light-years ... The Inflation Theory, developed by Alan Guth, Andrei Linde, Paul ... such as symmetry breaking and phase transitions, to cosmology. ...
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