Important Math Question

[geoschmo]

Let me preface this by saying I don't believe the universe is infinite. But the arguments given here against an infinite universe don't hold up. This is somewhat restating what others have already said, but maybe it will help to think of it this way.

If the universe is infinite, there are an infinite number of photons, but each photon is still a finite particle. It can only be in one point in the universe at any particular time. And you are finite as well. You only exsist in one point in space. Being hit with an infinite number of photons all at once would be bad. But for that to be possible one of these has to be true:

1. The infinite number of photons in the universe have to all be in the same place; just where you happen to be standing. Besides being an incredible piece of bad luck, this would be quite difficult to time. And if you managed it somehow, you'd be left with an infinite sized universe empty of photons, except where you are.

2. Every one of the infinite number of photons would have to exsist in every point in space simultaneously. Impossible since they are finite particles.

3. You would have to exsist in every point in space simultaneously.

The point is that over time, an infinite amount of time actually, you would be hit by an infinite number of photons. But at any particular point in time you are being hit by a very small, and very finite fraction of the total number of photons. Your perceived temperature is not dependant on the total number of photons to ever hit you, but on the total number of Photons hitting you at any particular point in time.

Geoschmo

[ November 04, 2003, 13:22: Message edited by: geoschmo ]