0.0.0.0. For The Big Bang...?

[jeremyp]

So everything was very small, and then it got bigger?

Yes, including space-time.

But it could only be measured on the inside, and if everything was very small, so were the measuring sticks.  So it would appear ginormous, from the inside.

Nope. Space-time is defined by gravity. Measuring sticks are defined by other forces, like electro-magnetic forces. Electro-magnetism is 10³⁷ times stronger than gravity (this is why the entire mass of the Earth is too feeble to break your legs when you are standing on it) so measuring sticks tend to keep their length.

Even gravity itself can stop expansion in local areas if there is enough mass about, for example, galaxies and galaxy clusters.

[Shaker]

People forget (or are unaware) because our lives seem dominated by it that compared to other fundamental forces gravity has a potentially infinite reach but is incredibly weak.

[Jack Knave]

[So everything was very small, and then it got bigger?]
Yes, including space-time.

But bigger implies smaller but if space-time is all there is to define this then nothing has changed as there is nothing to compare it to to provide contrast in order to 'see' that it is bigger! Else there must be a point where it all began. 

Nope. Space-time is defined by gravity. Measuring sticks are defined by other forces, like electro-magnetic forces. Electro-magnetism is 10³⁷ times stronger than gravity (this is why the entire mass of the Earth is too feeble to break your legs when you are standing on it) so measuring sticks tend to keep their length.

Even gravity itself can stop expansion in local areas if there is enough mass about, for example, galaxies and galaxy clusters.

Don't you mean mass?

[Jack Knave]

A question for all. If the strong force repels protons (and neutrons?) how do they stick together?

[Shaker]

A question for all. If the strong force repels protons (and neutrons?) how do they stick together?

It's actually the strong nuclear force that sticks them together - it's immensely powerful (comparatively speaking) but with a very, very short range.

[Jack Knave]

It's actually the strong nuclear force that sticks them together - it's immensely powerful (comparatively speaking) but with a very, very short range.

So there's the weak force, the strong force and then the strong nuclear force, yeah?

[Shaker]

So there's the weak force, the strong force and then the strong nuclear force, yeah?

No - the four fundamental forces are the strong nuclear force (also known as the strong interaction) the weak nuclear force (... weak interaction), electromagnetism and gravity.

[Jack Knave]

No - the four fundamental forces are the strong nuclear force (also known as the strong interaction) the weak nuclear force (... weak interaction), electromagnetism and gravity.

So which force repels protons from each other?

[Shaker]

So which force repels protons from each other?

Electromagnetism - this is about as simple an explanation as it gets:

http://goo.gl/tJPpcz

[Walt Zingmatilder]

So which force repels protons from each other?

Some are theist and some are antitheist.

[Jack Knave]

Some are theist and some are antitheist.

And the neutrons are the atheists.

[Nearly Sane]

Found this interesting.


http://phys.org/news/2015-02-big-quantum-equation-universe.html

[Leonard James]

Found this interesting.


http://phys.org/news/2015-02-big-quantum-equation-universe.html

Too complicated for my old brain! 

[Nearly Sane]

Too complicated for my old brain! 

Probably only needed the first two words there, Leonard. I wouldn't claim any deep understanding.