If the 'Big crunch' did start, considering the universe is limitless where would it crunch into?

Question

I'm not sure if this question makes sense, and im definately not looking for a definitive answer because i wont find it, but its something i hope sparks some questions and hopefully seems interesting.

Peace.

Answer 1

Why won't you find a definitive answer when one certainly exists? The definitive answer is "everywhere." The Big Crunch would happen if the universe started contracting (which we now know it will not do). "Contracting" means that the distances between the galaxies all decrease by the same percentage every unit time, i.e. that space is destroyed between the galaxies at some particular percentage rate per second. Eventually, there would be very little space left: the Big Crunch, which would be when the distances between all pairs of galaxies (or, at that point, what's left of galaxies) is extremely tiny. Nevertheless, the universe at all times is evenly filled with galaxies everywhere, it's just that there would be less space to contain them. Eventually, there would be very little space at all, but that space would constitute all of space, everywhere. So the answer is "everywhere:" the same answer that you would get if you had asked where the Big Bang happened 13.7 billion years ago.

We know it won't happen because we know from careful observation of the Cosmic Microwave background that the expansion is accelerating, not slowing down.

Answer 2

It would crunch down into a naked singularity, which would then explode, creating a new universe.

Answer 3

it would happen everywhere at once, same as the big bang happened everywhere at once.

Answer 4

GOOD ONE, JUST LIKE IF THE UNIVERSE IS EXPANDING WILL IT ENVENTUALLY HIT A HIT OR SOMETHING AND CONTRACT? THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT WE ASK QUESTIONS THAT WE WILL NEVER KNOW SO THERES NO POINT IN ASKING BUT WE STILL ASK ANYWAY

Answer 5

Given that the Universe didn't start out at a point, but as a very hot and dense thing at least as large as the current Universe, a Big Crunch (sometimes called a Gnab Gib), would crunch to something at least as large as the current visible Universe.

Where would it crunch to?  Everywhere.

Check out this classic article on Scientific American.

Answer 6

into itself.