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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Why are my atoms not flying apart? Please Hurry - May Have Limited Time Left
« on: 21/09/2019 12:46:02 »
Okay, I'm not really worried about disintegrating. Just wanted to get your attention. I asked the following question on a more general forum and got a single, not-so-satisfactory answer. So here goes:
If the very fabric of space is expanding, then I would assume that such expansion is resulting in increasing distances between all physical objects -- not only macroscopic objects like galaxies, but also between the very particles that make up atoms. I get that at that scale, such increases in distance would be infinitesimally minuscule -- but I also assume not zero.
My layperson understanding of particle physics tells me that the strength of the forces governing subatomic interactions are very critical -- and measured to many, many decimals of precision. Furthermore, if the constants were reduced by the even the slightest amount, one result would be that nucleonic particles would not be able to adhere (or whatever the term of art is) to form stable nuclei.
So (I'm sure you see where this is going), if the forces have remained constant, and the distances, however infinitesimally, are increasing, then at some point in the expansion of the universe, won't atoms cease to exist?
If the very fabric of space is expanding, then I would assume that such expansion is resulting in increasing distances between all physical objects -- not only macroscopic objects like galaxies, but also between the very particles that make up atoms. I get that at that scale, such increases in distance would be infinitesimally minuscule -- but I also assume not zero.
My layperson understanding of particle physics tells me that the strength of the forces governing subatomic interactions are very critical -- and measured to many, many decimals of precision. Furthermore, if the constants were reduced by the even the slightest amount, one result would be that nucleonic particles would not be able to adhere (or whatever the term of art is) to form stable nuclei.
So (I'm sure you see where this is going), if the forces have remained constant, and the distances, however infinitesimally, are increasing, then at some point in the expansion of the universe, won't atoms cease to exist?