I am sure this is a silly question, but I was reading something that described the...

I am sure this is a silly question, but I was reading something that described the pre big-bang universe as having "nearly infinite mass."

How can something be "nearly" infinite? The term seems to make no sense.

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Expert Solution

The universe seems to be well described by a solution to Einsteins equation called the FLRW metric. If you extrapolate this backwards towards the Big Bang the density of matter increases, and at the Big Bang itself the density becomes infinite.

A quick side note: the universe may well be of infinite size, so it's mass is necessarily infinite. It only makes sense to talk about the density i.e. the amount of matter in some chosen volume.

Anyhow, few believe that the density actually becomes infinite. It's widely believed that quantum gravity, or something like it, intervenes as we approach the moment of the Big Bang. I'd guess that the article you've read means that the density becomes extraordinarily large as we approach the Big Bang, but never becomes infinite. Hence the description "nearly infinite". However I agree with the other answers that the phrase "nearly infinite" is meaningless outside of a metaphor.

genius_generous answered 1 year ago

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