Don't forget about all the matter that is missing in the Universe. Scientists can account for only about 4% or 5% of all the matter that has to be out there. They can't find the other 95 or so percent. They think it has something to do with the "dark matter" in all galaxies. They don't yet know what it is or how it works. As for the universe collapsing back onto itself, I guess you could look at it like a spring being pulled. At somepoint the molecular interactions will start to tug back at the end of the spring. Now, one of three things can happen: One: The initial force is so great that it overcomes the compressive force of the spring and the spring breaks and then just expands forever. Two: The two forces equal each other and cancel each other out, halting the expansion of the spring, but not contracting it, it comes to a stop. and Three: The initial force isn't enough to break the spring and the spring at some point would start contracting back to it's original position.

Does that sound about right? Entropy is increasing as the spring is expanded (the molecules would be getting just a bit further from one another) but, as it contracts, entropy goes back to it's initial starting point.

• Re: Unknown Mass - Human I. Scientist - July 7, 1998 - 00:28 UTC
  • Come on now... - Schnee - July 7, 1998 - 07:57 UTC
    • Deduction - Astrophysicist - July 7, 1998 - 09:58 UTC
    • Re: Come on now... - Human I. Scientist - July 7, 1998 - 23:23 UTC
      • What's it matter? - Schnee - July 13, 1998 - 10:38 UTC
        • lOoK aT THe bRIgHt ColoRS oN ThE waLL MaN?!?! - mr_Gravity/">mr Gravity - July 16, 1998 - 14:37 UTC