<p>The number of atoms in the observable universe is finite. But the observable universe is also finite.</p>

<p>The ultimate topology of the whole Universe is unknown. It is not known if the Universe is finite or not. Both options seem hard to stomach, and since it concerns the unobservable, perhaps it lies outside of science...perhaps not.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-22T21:33:49.297Z
2016-02-22T21:33:49.297Z
James K
<p>I think you misunderstanding an important concept. There are a finite number of atoms in the observable universe — that is, the part we can see (notice the lower case "u"). </p>

<p>When people say "the universe", they can often refer to the observable universe. Sloppy, I know. The whole Universe (notice the capital "u" here) may be infinite. Also, don't know where you got the idea that the Universe has an infinite number of dimensions.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-23T00:33:17.047Z
It seems to me that "yet the Universe is infinite in dimensions" means "yet the Universe is infinite in size".
Eric Platon
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-22T21:53:49.673Z
2016-02-22T21:53:49.673Z
Sir Cumference
<p>The number of atoms in the whole Universe seems to be finite, yet the Universe is infinite in dimensions? How it is possible in the Universe?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-22T20:57:39.850Z
Is the space between finite set of atoms can be also finite?
user79235
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-22T21:02:44.097Z
As we know the expansion rate and the number of atoms in the Universe, then why we can't calculate it's size?
user79235
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-24T02:29:46.237Z
We know (approximately) the number of atoms in the ***observable*** universe, which is not the same as the whole infinite universe. That would have an infinite number of atoms.
Eubie Drew
<astrophysics>
Size of the Universe
user79235
# Size of the Universe

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-02-22)

The number of atoms in the whole Universe seems to be finite, yet the Universe is infinite in dimensions? How it is possible in the Universe?

**Tags:** astrophysics

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Is the space between finite set of atoms can be also finite?  
> **username_0**: As we know the expansion rate and the number of atoms in the Universe, then why we can't calculate it's size?  
> **username_1**: We know (approximately) the number of atoms in the ***observable*** universe, which is not the same as the whole infinite universe. That would have an infinite number of atoms.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-02-22. Score: 3

The number of atoms in the observable universe is finite. But the observable universe is also finite.

The ultimate topology of the whole Universe is unknown. It is not known if the Universe is finite or not. Both options seem hard to stomach, and since it concerns the unobservable, perhaps it lies outside of science...perhaps not.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2016-02-22. Score: 2

I think you misunderstanding an important concept. There are a finite number of atoms in the observable universe — that is, the part we can see (notice the lower case "u").

When people say "the universe", they can often refer to the observable universe. Sloppy, I know. The whole Universe (notice the capital "u" here) may be infinite. Also, don't know where you got the idea that the Universe has an infinite number of dimensions.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: It seems to me that "yet the Universe is infinite in dimensions" means "yet the Universe is infinite in size".  

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