Which is larger, the universe or space?

Unknown Brain 1212

Effectively space is the area in which the universe resides. The universe is the matter that resides within all known space.

The theory of relativity states (in simple terms) that matter is slow moving condensed energy. The law(s) of conservation of energy and matter states that matter/energy cannot be destroyed and that if matter is destroyed it is actually converted into an equivalent amount of energy. The universe is slowly expanding and all of the stars/planets will eventually implode or be destroyed etc until the universe is nothing more than an equal distribution of energy within space (which may condense into a large mass/singularity and restart itself all over again)

so in terms of volume space must be bigger.

However the universe includes time and soo much more, so this question is kind of rigged.

Infinite empty space vs a sprawling cloud of matter along an infinite timeline is kind of apples to oranges.

either way, if science fiction is any indication i'd rather not be lost in either without a map.

Cody McGrath New Brain

The Universe is a component of space and time. Both the 3 dimensional space and time are relative to the universe. Outside of the universe there is no concept of space nor time. Since the universe is comprised of both space and time it would have to be considered, in a sense, bigger because it has 4 dimensions instead of the 3 that space has, the fourth being time. Our mind have developed in a 3 dimensional environment so it is difficult to comprehend an infinite concept like the universe. It is not expanding into anything nor is it expanding into empty space. Since the universe is space and time then the "outside" is neither space nor time it is nothing, so there is no outside of the universe. With there being no outside of the universe then all space must be contained within the universe so the universe is I guess bigger, even though in an infinite plain there is no real concept of big, small, up, or down, so the question is kind of unanswerable.

Matz Andrén Trollmann 1455

The commonly accepted theory amongst physicians and astronomers about big bang makes most people think there is just empty space outside our known universe, which is wrong. What's outside our universe is irrelevant, as there is no such thing as "outside our universe", based on the theories. The universe is all there is. Therefore the universe with all the dimensions could contain an (as stated earlier in the thread) unlimited number of 3-dimensional spaces, and the universe is in any way you perceive it, bigger than space.

Justin Mckay 1317

the universe, because space has only 3 dimension that we're aware of. the universe is infinite.

Peter Alexander 1306

"Space" is a non-scientific term for everything that is "out there", that is, everything except the Earth and environs. (And how far into that environs space extends depends on whom you ask...) The universe, by definition, encloses all of "space" as well as the Earth and environs. Space is a "subset" -- as it were -- of the Universe.

John D. 1241

The universe contains space

Erik Elliott 1260

The universe is defined as infinite. Space, on the other hand, is more of an object within the universe

Henry Yanes 1271

Let's be real!!! I don’t think that we know for sure what the universe really is! And we don’t know for sure that there is only one universe. So than for now I will use plain old common sense to come to the conclusion that Space and the Universe are both the same.

Keith Cote 1411

First i would like to point out that there is only one universe. To say that there is more than one universe is quite a paradox.
Uni means one. The universe encompasses all matter and energy so there cant be another universe since all matter and energy exists in the universe. If there is another system of galaxies that exists which is accessed my a black hole or what not, then it wouldn't be called a second universe, it would be a subsystem of the universe having a different name.

Second, this question is not exactly clear. It does not specify which quantity is compared, mass or volume. If it is mass, then it is the universe that is bigger, since space has no mass. If it is volume being measured, it is space that is bigger. See my answer below for my explanation.

Keith Cote 1411

if u consider the universe to be THE complete system of matter and and energy and space encompassing every possible position in a 3 dimensional coordinate system, then space is MUCH bigger. According to the big bang theory the universe started out as an extremely small singularity and exploding and matter and energy expanded in all directions. Since the universe existed for a finite amount of time and neither matter not energy can travel faster than c, the speed of light, the position of every particle in the universe is located at a finite distance from the point of the big bang. Therefore, since the universe is a finite displacement, and space is the coordinate system expanding infinitely in all directions, space is infinitely larger than the universe.