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phase begins and ends with zero velocity. Maximum velocity is achieved halfway through each phase and acceleration falls to zero at this point. The expansion begins to decelerate and continues until it reaches zero velocity. At this point, the master universe has achieved its maximum expansion and is ready to begin its contraction phase. The contraction phase retraces the acceleration/deceleration path of the expansion phase. The velocity during the contraction phase is negative since it is in the opposite direction compared to the expansion phase. To me, this seems a reasonable scenario for the space respiration expansion and contraction cycles.
Maximum and Minimum Size of the Observable Universe.
I have chosen to limit this discussion to the observable universe because that is all our astronomers are able to measure. The Urantia Book seems to indicate that this observable universe extends only to the outer edge of the first outer space level. (129) If the first outer space level and the superuniverse level together are about 51 million light years thick, how thick or what is the radius from the center of rotation (Paradise) to the outer edge of the first OSL?
In a previous article, I determined that the radius of the central universe was probably less than 1000 light years [1] If so, then its size is small enough to neglect in calculating the radius and volume of the visible universe.
If the average radius to the outer edge of the first outer space level is about 51 million light years, can we make any predictions as to the amount of contraction and expansion of the universe? (I say average radius because the orbital track of the superuniverses and outer space levels is not a circle, but rather is shaped like a racetrack. Unfortunately, The Urantia Book does not tell us the maximum and minimum radii of the orbital path.) The amount of contraction is perhaps the easiest part to bracket. We know that the universe cannot contract to zero size, and there are practical limits on just how small it can get. But before we consider that, we need to ask if the galaxies and superuniverses themselves contract and expand with the universe.
We can be sure that the distance between galaxies increases as the universe expands, but what about the space between the stars within a galaxy? The Urantia Book says that the material creation participates (134) in space respiration, but does that mean that the galaxies expand as the universe expands and vice versa? Do the galaxies keep their shape and size throughout the space respiration cycles or do they contract and expand with space during the contraction and expansion phases? Each scenario has its problems.
Physicists tell us that the balance between gravity and the forces created by rotation is what prevents galaxies from flying apart or collapsing. If we assume that galaxies do not change size as the universe expands and contracts, what are the consequences? As the universe expands, the galaxies will move farther and farther apart. This doesn't seem to pose a problem. However, as the universe contracts, the superuniverses will come closer together. We are not informed on how much space exists between superuniverses but there could be a large buffer zone between them. If the superuniverses keep their present size, as the universe contracts, the galaxies that comprise the superuniverses would eventually come close enough to mutually disrupt each other. This clearly would not be acceptable.
Again, since the authors don't indicate how much of a buffer zone exists between the superuniverses, we can only make a reasoned judgment about the amount of contraction that is acceptable. 50% sounds to me like a reasonable amount for the maximum contraction. If the universe contracts by 25.5 light years from its present size, then it seems logical to assume that it expands by an equal amount referenced to its present size.
The other possibility is that everything contracts as the universe contracts, and expands as the universe expands. This would mean galaxies, planets, people, and perhaps even molecules and atoms would change size in proportion to the change in the size of the universe. To make this scheme work, either the mass of the basic particles would have to increase or the gravitational constant would have to increase as the universe expanded, and decrease as the universe contracted to maintain the same gravitational force between objects. This would maintain the same gravitational forces between planets, stars, and galaxies, thus preventing disruption due to changes in gravitational force as the bodies come closer together. Is there any way to determine which of the two concepts is correct?
The authors tell us that the superuniverses participate in space expansion. They also tell us that material bodies work against Paradise gravity during the expansion phase and with Paradise gravity during the contraction phase of space respiration. (134) To me, this suggests that stars, galaxies, and all material bodies resist expansion and contraction. The idea introduced in the previous paragraph that the constants of the universe are not constant seems outrageous. The simplest solution is that the forces between atoms, molecules and larger bodies are much stronger than the expansion of the space within the bodies, and thus the bodies do not expand and contract in size during space respiration. If we accept this as a working hypothesis, can we find evidence of space respiration as we look out into the universe?
Consider that the further a galaxy is from us, the longer it takes for its light to reach us. Because of this, we are looking further back in time as we look further out into the universe.
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