Catholic Scientist writes:
How does the expansion stop and the contraction begin?
Gravity would do that if the universe was dense enough.
Catholic Scientist writes:
Why, instead of a sphere, wouldn't the model be a cone/hemisphere?
Different models
are used.
Catholic Scientist writes:
Also, as we reached the equator the expansion rate would slow, so is there anyway for us to estimate which latitude we are at? Perhaps compare the expansion rate over a large enough time scale to determine what point of the globe we are at. Since the expansion rate is still increasing, we’d have to be north of 45 degrees latitude.
No. Using that model, the rate of expansion would be steadily decreasing, reach 0 at the equator, and then switch over to a steady increase in contraction. However, as the rate of expansion is increasing, the 3D representation would be more of a horn shape. (I think)
Catholic Scientist writes:
It seems that after the big crunch there would be another big bang. I think the singularity existed for a split second after contraction and immediately began expanding again, it just happens over and over again forever. With this view, you can ask what happened before the big bang. In your earth model, north of north pole would be the south pole of another earth sitting on top of it, and another earth would be south of the south pole too, a whole stack of them, a tall one.
Or am I completely wrong?
Not if you're talking about 'before' in imaginary time. The sphere represents space-time, so the totality
our time is on it. Within time, once you get to the North Pole, all directions are 'later'/'after'. 'Up' is a direction in imaginary time.
Of course, it's been awhile since I studied this stuff, so I may be off a bit.
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