Submitted by waterboy14 t3_zvps6k in explainlikeimfive
Kind-Character7342 t1_j1r3980 wrote
Reply to comment by clocks212 in eli5 what is the most credible theory for what existed before the big bang? by waterboy14
Not to go down the incomprehensible road, but if they say the universe is expanding relative to origin. What physically is it expanding into? A void? And would that void have existed before the beginning of time?
clocks212 t1_j1r4k8s wrote
Best analogy I’ve heard is to imagine our universe was flat and existed on the surface of a balloon. As the balloon expands all 2 dimensional creatures living on the balloon see other galaxies moving away from them. But what is it expanding into? Nothing. Their universe is made of a flat ball of expanding rubber. It’s not expanding into more rubber. There is absolutely nothing that exists within the laws of nature in that 2 dimensional universe that can possibly describe what it is expanding into. In fact it’s really only expanding in time. The balloon was smaller in the past and will be larger in the future. But it isn’t expanding into anything.
Now imagine three dimensions of space and one of time expanding (if you have a better imagination than me) in the same way that balloon expands. It’s not expanding into anything, it is everything and everything is expanding. Also as far as we can tell our universe does not curve into itself like a balloon. Or if it does it must be at least 23 trillion light years in diameter based on the accuracy of our measurements.
Kind-Character7342 t1_j1r756e wrote
This is the way to ELI5 thanks
Toke_Ivo t1_j1r51rd wrote
Yes, it's expanding, but on the inside (like a balloon). Unless you can already look outside, you're not getting any closer to the outside. (Assuming an "outside")
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