/sci/ - Science & Math

>>2638269
The shape of the universe, according to the equations of general relativity, is closely tied to the amount of "stuff" - matter and energy - that the universe contains. Einstein's equations state that matter curves the fabric of space-time, and the more matter there is in the universe, the more highly curved the universe, as a whole, is. If there is more than a critical amount of matter, then the universe has positive curvature, like a ball. I there is less than this critical amount then the universe has negative curvature, like a saddle. If the amount of stuff in the universe is precisely enough to balance it on the knife-edge between positive and negative curvature, the cosmos is flat, like a plane. Scientists use the symbol OMEGA to represent the amount of stuff in the universe. The size of OMEGA determines the curvature of the universe; if it is below the critical density, if omega is less than on, then the universe has negative curvature and is shaped like a saddle. If omega is greater than one, then the curvature is usually positive, and the universe is like a ball. IF IT’S EQUAL TO ONE THEN THE UNIVERSE IS LIKE A PLANE