Christina Svensson

SPH3U-02
Mr. Wardle
12.03.2009

Why is the universe expanding?

The solution to this problem is what physicists call dark energy. They have come up with
three possible solutions; one of Einstein’s theories of gravity (the one containing a
cosmological constant), energy fluid is filling up the “empty space”, or that Einstein’s
gravitational theory is wrong and a new theory including a field which created this
cosmic acceleration. At least they have a name for it.

Einstein was the first person to discover that it is possible for more space to come
into existence. And that space can possess energy. And because this energy is not a
property of space itself, it will not dilute when space expands, but more of this energy
would appear. This expansion would than go faster and faster, causing space to expand
much more rapidly than physicists from all over the world thought. All of these
predictions are based upon one of Einstein’s gravitational theories, more specifically- the
one containing a cosmological constant. Also, his theory of empty space also says
that the so called “empty space” is actually full of temporary particles that continually
form, and than disappears. This turned out to be severely wrong, as the energy possessed
by these particles would have had to be about 10120 if the physicists were right.

Another justification for dark energy is that a new type of dynamical fluid or field
is filling up space, but its effect on the expansion of space is opposite of that of normal
matter and energy. Some scientists call this “quintessence”, after the fifth element (latin;
quinta essentia) which in ancient Greek history was the element that was to fill the
Universe beyond Earth. But even though they have a name for it; they still don’t know
what it is, where it comes from, or why it exists.

A third, and last, explanation is that the theory of gravity is incorrect. Previously,
the laws of gravity explained why the universes’ expansion slowed down, but now that it
is proved not to be the case (it is accelerating), this is a likely explanation. This would
also affect the way normal matter behave, in both galaxies and clusters of galaxies. And
this again would provide us with a perfectly good way to see if a new gravity theory is
needed. But if a new theory is needed, no one would know what that would be, and we
are back where we began.

I believe the third explanation is the best. To prove that the solution to the dark energy
problem is to come up with a new gravity theory or not, is the only explanation that
would give us something new to build on. Yes; we would have to come up with a new
gravity theory, and yes; it is most likely going to take a long time until they find the right
one. But at least they are on the right track. But I also believe we should investigate all of
the explanations; we are actually talking about 70 % (!) of the universe.