JBeukema
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- #141
What I meant was, the Universe is expanding, correct?
Spacetime is expanding, yes.
If so, doesn't that mean that Energy (which is a constant amount according to the "rule") is thus spread over a greater area .... thus, less concentrated .... thus weaker?
Basically, yes.
If so, how/why do stars develop enough energy to burn HOTTER.
The stars are systems unto themselves within the universe. Think about it this way:
If I light a match and throw it some gas... The match is burning, right? it's losing energy. However, ti triggers a chemical reaction that releases more energy that the initial raaction. Similarly, the lifecycle of stars invovles various stages (brought about by the nuclear reactions within them, as well as their own gravitational effects on themselves) that cause them to release different amounts of energy depending on the interior conditions. For instance, when a star collapses, the increased densit speeds up the fusion process, causing it to become 'hotter'. Of course, due to the number of factors involved, there is not one single 'life cycle of a star', but a number of developmental paths that can be taken.
(this does require more ENERGY, yes? No?).
It requires that more energy be released from the star. Remember that it is the mass (matter) of the star that is being converted into energy through nuclear fusion (like a hydrogen bomb that just keeps going). If the expansion of the universe caused entropy to increase at a rate faster than even nuclear fusion could convert matter into energy, we would not exist.
When you have the option, here are some links that can hopefully explain it better than I can (I only bothered to ever learn the fundamental aspects of the physics and cosmology of star formation and development)
The Life Cycle Of A Star
NASA - Lifecycle of a Star
HowStuffWorks Videos "Investigating Astronomy: The Lifecycle of a Star"
Metric expansion of space - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
At smaller scales matter has clumped together under the influence of gravitational attraction and these clumps do not individually expand, though they continue to recede from one another.
The Expanding Universe
Big Bang Cosmology: Physics
Expanding Universe
Expanding Universe