Quote:
Originally Posted by JimJast
We don't need the full size since if the principle of conservation of energy were true and the universe were static the density would be H_o^2/(4*pi*G*) (and dH/dt=-H_0^2/2). Unfortunately an assumption of validity of the principle of conservation of energy produces density 1.5 times bigger than "critical" (whatever it means) and apparently 2.3 times bigger than what is observed. So if estimated density is exactly right the principle of conservation of energy is wrong and the universe is expanding, as I was already told by many astronomers, prof. John Baez (a mathematical physicists), and all the mathematical physicists at my university. I still have doubts though since each observation has its standard deviation that makes it uncertain. So I'd like to know what is the standard deviation of estimated density, to calculate the probability that the universe is expanding, which I assume, was never done, as I never found it in the literature. That's why I need an advice of an astronomer, and I'm glad that there is such a place where I can get it.
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You can say your estimate is that which comes about by universal energy conservation and a static state (whatever they mean), but that's a little different from demonstrating. I for one won't take your word on it.
However, since you asked, the measurements of the fluctuations in the CMB put the most stringent error bars on the baryonic and total matter densities. The uncertainties in the latter are less than +/-15% (from the 2003 WMAP data release; the error bars are about a factor of 2 smaller now in the recently released 2008 data). You can start
here, and then go
here.