Alexander Valdez Chemistry The Big Crunch Vs.

The Big Rip

3/5/2013 Project

The Big Crunch and the Big Rip are two strongly supported theories of how the universe may end. The universe most likely has a finite amount of time left. So one of these theories may come true. The Big Rip is the theory that the universe will expand until one day every particle in the universe rips. While the Big Crunch suggests the universe will stop expanding and the entropy will reverse. This will cause the universe to reverse and form a black hole which will suck all particles up. I believe the Big Rip is a more sound theory. One of the leading variables to be considered in deciding which theory to choose is the density. When the Density exceeds the critical density then the Big Crunch is most likely to occur. However when the density is less than the critical density then the Big Rip is most likely to occur. Research now helps further support the Big Rip in terms of critical density. The idea of the Big Rip is even more feasible when one thinks of the possibilities of dark energy. Dark energy is a form of energy used to describe the acceleration of the expansion of the universe. As time progresses the density of dark energy increases. Thus causing the universe to be split into elementary particles. Dark energy causes the universe to expanding even more. The main argument for the Big Crunch was the way gravity works. Gravity may work on a small scale on earth. However on a large scale such as the universe the force of gravity may not be enough to pull everything together. Gravity is not able to keep up to the speed of the universes expansion. If this happens then the Big Crunch will not happen.

The Big Rip has a lot of evidence to support it. The Big Crunch lacks proper evidence to support their ideas. The main arguments to support the Big Rip is the critical density in the universe, the concept of dark energy and the way gravity may not be as strong as the universes expansion. The universe will continue to expand and may end with the Big Rip; however that will come in billions perhaps even trillions of years later.