Features of The Universe All
forms of energy and matter that exist in space and time define the universe. Everything
is made of matter in the universe. Matter exists in all the planets, stars, and
galaxies. The matter in its various states, such as solid, liquid, gas, plasma,
etc., is also known as baryonic matter. The states of matter are called
different phases of matter. The transition of matter from one state to another
is possible with energy. Energy exists in various forms, such as heat, light,
sound, waves, etc. Most of the radiation in interstellar space is also a form
of energy. The
universe has been expanding since its origination. In addition to ordinary
matter and energy, dark matter and dark energy exist in the universe. The energy
driving the expansion of the universe is called dark energy. Dark energy is
also known as space or vacuum energy. The galaxies in space are moving away due
to the dark energy. Yet, each galaxy is held together by gravitational force.
This gravitational force for holding a galaxy together turns out to be more
than what can be exerted by the ordinary matter in that galaxy. Therefore, it
is postulated that dark matter exists in a galaxy to account for additional
gravitation force. It is not visible but exerts gravitational force to hold the
galaxy together. In short, the universe's constituents are matter, energy, dark
matter, and dark energy. It
is necessary to identify the characteristic features of the universe to
understand its origin. These features of the universe are valid everywhere in
the universe. The salient properties of the universe are deduced from
observations of the various phenomena occurring in the universe. We can state
these features briefly as follows. 1.
The
universe is dynamic. Everything in the universe, including time and space, is changing
continuously. 2.
The
universal time, spatial dimension, and space energy can change in small steps
of discrete size. Therefore, we infer that any measurement of these quantities is
quantized. 3.
Quantization
of time, spatial dimension, and space energy give rise to uncertainty of events. 4.
Everything
in the universe is evanescent, with a limited timespan for its existence. 5.
The
total mass-energy of the universe is conserved. It implies that the sum of all
types of matter and energy remains constant. 6.
There
is a continuum for the constituents of the universe. It implies that every type
of matter and energy that exists in the universe is inter-convertible. Now,
we will provide more explanation about these properties. In
the universe, changes are occurring continuously everywhere. Even the mountains
that appear static are changing, although at a languid pace. These slow and
small changes are not observable with our eyes but are detectable with
instruments. In our Solar system, Earth and all other planets also change
positions or move continuously. At the cosmic scale, all the stars and galaxies
are moving. Also, at the microscopic scale, the electrons revolve around the
nucleus inside an atom. Even inside the nucleus, the protons and the neutrons
are constantly wiggling. Thus, there is nothing static in the universe. A system
may be in a steady state for a specific time but not in an everlasting constant
state. The universe is expanding in space with time. It implies that the
universe is changing with time as everything is changing in the universe. Thus,
the universe is dynamic both in space and time. If the universe were a static
place, everything would remain steady and frozen in one state. It will not be
possible to create anything. There will be no life. Thus, it is the fundamental
tenet that the universe is dynamic. Quantization
means that a variable can take only those values that are integral multiples of
a base unit. Time advances continuously. However, there is a limit on the
smallest change in time. Therefore, change in time occurs in tiny increments of
a discrete step. Time cannot take any value between two consecutive discrete
steps. Like a clock whose minute-hand ticks every second, the universe clock
also ticks with a small interval. This time between successive ticks is also
known as the Planck unit of time. The discrete change occurring only at
multiples of the Planck time is called quantization. The
change for any event occurs in a tiny step due to a discrete-time step. Thus, the
outcome of any event is defined only at discrete multiples of the Planck time. However,
as Planck's time is very short, the event appears to change continuously on a
more extensive time scale. There
is a minimum limit also on the change in the spatial dimension. It is referred
to as the quantization of spatial dimensions. Time and spatial dimensions are
related since the space dimension is the product of the time taken by the light
to travel a given distance. Due to the minimum interval of time and length, the
velocity of light is constant. Similar
to time and length, there also exists quantization of dark energy or space. Any
physical process or event changes may appear continuous but happen in tiny
discrete steps. As we mentioned, change in time occurs in small discrete step
sizes. Nothing is certain between two successive discrete steps of time as it
is not defined. Thus, every change is uncertain in a smaller interval than this
shortest time. Similarly, it is undefined below the minimum limit on the
spatial dimension. Hence, it gives rise to the uncertainty of an event. As
mentioned earlier, changes in time and space are undefined below the
fundamental limits. Therefore, both space and time are uncertain within the
minimum change limits. Since everything in the universe is defined by space and
time, everything has an uncertainty associated with it. Thus, we can generalize
that there is uncertainty associated with any event. The consequence of
uncertainty is that the smallest change, in any event, is as likely to happen
as it is to not. It
is the uncertainty that makes the universe dynamic. If everything is sure to
occur, this will lead to monotonous or definite events. It will eventually lead
to a static or uninteresting universe. It will also violate the law of
continuous change in this dynamic universe. By
evanescence, we mean that the various entities existing in the universe disappear,
transforming into something else. The universe's dynamic nature implies a continuous
change. Changes coupled with uncertainty give rise to the concept of evolution.
Every physical phenomenon occurring in this universe is the outcome of evolution.
Evolution suggests that everything in the universe has a lifespan. It is true
not only for living things but also for nonliving entities. The mountains or
the planet also have a limited time for existence. Even the stars are born and
die, although their lifespan is very long, the order of several billions of
years. However, living things have a limited lifespan. Thus, everything is evanescent
in the universe. The evanescence combined with continuous change leads to the evolution
of different life forms. The
universe also has its period of existence, similar to everything in the
universe. The present universe was born about 13.8 billion years ago. Its life
span is still under investigation. In the past, observations of several natural
phenomena pointed toward an expanding universe. Therefore, it was postulated as
an open universe. It implied that the universe would continue to expand
forever. However, more accurate recent observations indicate that it is a
closed universe. This universe will start shrinking after reaching maximum size,
eventually converging to a point. It means that the current cycle of the
universe will end, and a new process of universe creation will begin, as shown
in Figure
1.18.
Thus, the universe starts with almost zero size and increases with time. After
reaching a maximum, the size starts to decrease. Finally, the universe is
closed with almost zero size. A new cycle of the universe begins from that
size. Everything
in the universe has a beginning and an end with time. Time itself is perceived
to be incremental. Thus, there is no end to time since it is defined as a continuously
increasing linear variable. However, we estimate the size of the universe to be
cyclic in time based on various pointers for the closed universe. There is a
unique period for each cycle of the universe or anything that occurs repetitively.
Furthermore, due to uncertainty, this period differs from cycle to cycle. Thus,
we conclude that everything in this universe has an associated timespan for its
existence. Matter
or energy cannot be destroyed or created; however, it can convert from one form
to another. It is known as the law of conservation. In all the processes occurring
in the universe, all types of mass and energy are conserved. Thus, any
conversion process follows the law of conservation of mass-energy. This law holds
for all the universe's constituents. In the beginning, at time zero, there
exists only dark matter. Then, the dark matter begins to convert into the dark
energy that creates matter and energy. We have the maximum dark energy in the middle
of the cycle, while dark matter is the minimum. Therefore, the relative volume
of constituents keeps on changing throughout the universe's life cycle.
However, all the constituents' mass-energy contents remain constant. Ordinary
matter exists in various states, such as solid, liquid, gas, plasma, etc. The
matter is convertible from one form to another. Matter is made of atoms.
Several types of elementary particles constitute an atom. In the laboratory
experiments, anti-particles of the elementary particles are also observed.
These anti-particles constitute antimatter. When
matter and antimatter combine, these annihilate to give rise to energy. Also,
elementary particles and anti-particles are created from dark energy. We know
that energy exists in many different forms, and energy can also be converted
from one form to another. Also, matter can be converted to energy. Therefore,
matter and energy are inter-convertible. It is postulated here that dark matter
and dark energy are inter-convertible. Although all of the universe's
constituents are distinct, transforming one component into another is possible.
We specify this as a continuum of the constituents of the universe. A schematic
diagram depicting these transformations is shown in Figure
1.19.
Figure 1.19: A
schematic diagram illustrating the conversion of one constituent to another
constituent of the universe. Thus,
dark matter is converted into space or dark energy. Also, elementary particles
and anti-particles can annihilate to give space energy. From the space energy,
elementary particles and anti-particles are created. From the elementary
particles, matter in the gas phase is formed. It is convertible from the gas
phase into a solid or liquid phase. Also, matter can collapse into a black hole
as it happens in the core of the stars. Figure
1.19
shows that the dark matter as a black hole of Planck mass undergoes a phase
transition to convert to dark energy. Therefore, there is a continuum of every
constituent of the universe, as shown in the figure. The
amount of matter points to an alternate view of the continuum for the
constituents. Each constituent of the universe can be characterized by an equivalent
of mass density, the amount of matter in a given volume. For example, dark
matter has the highest possible density, and vacuum has the lowest. This
continuum of matter density is presented in Figure
1.20.
Dark matter exists with a maximum density of 1096 Kg/m3,
while dark energy exists with a minimum of 10-27 Kg/m3.
Thus, the universe's constituents exist in a wide range of densities. Figure 1.20: An
illustration of the range of densities of the universe's constituents. We
have presented the characteristics of the universe. These are dynamism,
quantization, uncertainty, evanescence, conservation of mass-energy, and continuum.
Also, the fundamental units of the universe are quantized. Thus, any change in
the universe occurs in the integer multiples of the basic units. Constraints of
quantization lead to uncertainty. Uncertainty makes the universe dynamic.
Uncertainty and dynamism become the cause of evanescence. Evanescence does not
imply destruction, but it means transformation from one form to another. Since the
mass energy of the universe is conserved. More details for the
basis of the universe features are presented in this article.
Characteristics
Dynamism
Quantization
Uncertainty
Evanescence
Figure 1.18: An illustration
depicts a cycle of the universe and how its size varies with time.Conservation of
mass-energy
Continuum
Conclusion