I’ve actually asked that question myself although I didn’t look up the size of the ‘known universe’. It seems to big based on standard physics, unless you get a little meta-physical and utilize Einstein’s concepts of relativity where even light is relative and can even be bent by gravity, but what if the speed of light was relative to the expansion of the universe and not a pure constant as if it would be the same if there was no expansion. In other words, the universe is expanding faster than they suggest it is and you can’t calculate it accurately because of the disparity of perception/measurement of light as your method.
I’ve wondered similar. Light can be bent by gravity and can’t ‘escape’ a black hole. So the speed of light is proportional to gravity and is not a pure constant (right?). We also know speed impacts time. If there was a ‘big bang’ does ‘space time’ change as matter accelerates? Does ‘space time’ change as the acceleration slows? Or stops? Or decelerates? Therefore, time is not a constant either (right?).
If time is ‘relative’ then using constants to estimate the age of anything is only accurate in the ‘short term’ - whatever that actually means.
I love science, work in a technical field - but am no physicist. This has bothered me for a while though and I’ve not seen a discussion surrounding these concepts. Maybe it’s because I’m completely ignorant to why the discussion has no merit.
I’ve wondered similar. Light can be bent by gravity and can’t ‘escape’ a black hole. So the speed of light is proportional to gravity and is not a pure constant (right?). We also know speed impacts time. If there was a ‘big bang’ does ‘space time’ change as matter accelerates? Does ‘space time’ change as the acceleration slows? Or stops? Or decelerates? Therefore, time is not a constant either (right?).
If time is ‘relative’ then using constants to estimate the age of anything is only accurate in the ‘short term’ - whatever that actually means.
I love science, work in a technical field - but am no physicist. This has bothered me for a while though and I’ve not seen a discussion surrounding these concepts. Maybe it’s because I’m completely ignorant to why the discussion has no merit.