closed universe | is a kind of big bang | |
has definition Big Bang model that was formulated by Friedmann and Lemaitre which has a positive curvature, like the surface of a sphere, in which case the universe is finite, closed, and will eventually recollapse. This space is unbounded. | |
has definition Any model of the Universe in which the gravity of the matter content can reverse the expansion and cause a collapse. | |
has definition A standard universe with a spherical three-dimensional spatial geometry. Such a universe is finite in both space and time, and recollapses. | |
has definition A homogeneous, isotropic universe is said to be temporally closed if gravity is strong enough to eventually reverse the expansion, causing the universe to recollapse. It is said to be spatially closed if gravity is strong enough to curve the space back on itself, forming a finite volume with no boundary. Triangles would contain more than 180°, the circumference of a circle would be less than π times the diameter, and a traveler intending to travel in a straight line would eventually find herself back at her starting point. If Einstein's cosmological constant is zero, as is frequently assumed, then a universe which is temporally closed is also spatially closed, and vice versa. | |
has definition Cosmological model in which the universe eventually stops expanding and begins to collapse, presumably to end in a fireball like that of the big bang. Compare open universe. | |
has definition A universe that has a finite size. Closed universes expand for a finite time, reach a maximum size, and then collapse. In closed universes, the inward pull of gravity dominates and eventually reverses the outward flying apart of matter; that is, gravitational energy dominates the kinetic energy of expansion. The value of omega is greater than 1 for a closed universe. If a universe begins closed, it remains closed; if it begins open, it remains open; if it begins flat, it remains flat. In the big bang model of the universe, the question of whether the universe is closed, open, or flat is determined by the initial conditions, just as the fate of a rocket launched from earth is determined by its initial upward velocity relative to the strength of earth's gravitational pull. If the initial rate of expansion of the universe was lower than a critical value, determined by the mass density, the universe will expand only for a certain period of time and then collapse, just as a rocket launched with a velocity below a critical value, dependent on the strength of earth's gravity, will reach a maximum height and then fall back to earth. This is the behavior of a closed universe. If the initial rate of expansion of the universe was larger than a critical value, the universe is open and will keep expanding forever. If the initial rate of expansion was precisely the critical value, the universe is flat and will expand forever, but with a rate of expansion that approaches zero. (See flat universe; omega; open universe.) | |
has geometry of space positive curvature | |
big bang | has synonym Friedmann-Lemaitre universe | |
has antonym big crunch | |
cosmology theory | has domain cosmology | |
theory | has validity correct or incorrect with caveats | |
has author or reasearch group | |
has date or a range of dates for which the theory was active | |