How much does the universe weigh?

Question

How much does the universe weigh?

Answer 1

A more appropriate question would be what is the total mass of the universe.  Weight is a function of gravitational fields which vary a great throughout the universe.  We have an estimation of the density of the universe: 10^-29 grams/cubic centimeter.  And we can estimate the size of (at least( our visible universe at 100-150 billion light years in diameter. Converting light years to meters, we have 9.5 x 10^26 meters in diameter.  If this estimate is correct and if the universe is roughly spherical, we can estimate the volume of the universe as  7 x 10^78 cubic meters.  With a density of 10^-29 grams/cc, the total mass of the observable universe is roughly 10^55 grams.  

Answer 2

why would you like to pick it up

Answer 3

That's a strange question, since weight by definition is the force caused by the attraction of matter to other matter. Weight is dependent on both the distance between the two pieces of matter and their mass. Since everything in the universe is attracted to every other thing in the universe, I would venture to say that the net weight of the universe (if that has any meaning at all) would probably be zero.

As far as the MASS of the entire universe, which is a measure that is directly related to weight but is much more consistent, no one really knows for sure. To know the massiveness, we would have to know the full extents of the universe. In all fairness, I will include an estimation that I found:

3 x 10^55 grams

This figure is based on the size of the observable universe and its estimated density, including dark matter. Hope that helps!

NOTE: I wouldn't recommend converting this figure into pounds, since the 2.2 pounds per kilogram conversion factor commonly used only works for relatively small objects near the Earth's surface, which clearly does not apply to the entire universe. It's not even really a "conversion factor" since pounds and kilograms measure different things.

Answer 4

I'd either say nothing or infinity. Since weight is justified by gravity... you can't really weigh the universe.

Answer 5

Technically speaking, the universe as a whole doesn't weigh anything.  Weight is a unit of force, in this context gravity, which works on a given world, but not with the universe as a whole.

But you're probably talking about mass rather than weight.  The mass of the universe is, of course, both enormous and difficult to estimate.  Unfortunately I don't have a good answer for you on that.  If someone does give you a reasonable estimate, it will probably be an exponential number (e.g., 10 to the 100,000, or 10^100000).