What is space and how can space be created or destroyed when the universe expands or contracts?

Answer 1

Space is an infinite extension of any 3D region filled with matter. If that is the case, that would mean that the was no space before the big bang-where the universe begun hence space is the property of the universe meaning space must have been created with/by the big bang .If space were to be destroyed,(which I certainly hope you don't wish for that)I'm afraid even your great-great of your great descendents won't be able to see the results.....Remember you are also existing in space and time , the solar system you are in is isolated in a vastness of space.If the universe expands it can only do that in space-time meaning that space is continually expanding and applying the same theory in reverse it should give us the opposite so as to say contraction might destroy space. ---- Space traditionally exists in three dimensions: width, breadth, and depth. A dictionary definition of the word space is: the unlimited or incalculably great three-dimensional realm or expanse in which all material objects are located and all events occur. A moderntwist is the addition of a fourth dimension: time. Space is the "container" within which everything exists. From our remote position on Earth, we can see aroundfourteen billion light years in every direction, giving the universe an approximatesize of twenty-eight billion light years in diameter. Given that light can travel at 300,000 kilometers a second, and would taketwenty-eight billion years to cross the universe,it's hard to imagine how big that really is. My calculations come out at around 227,059,200,000,000,000,000,000 kilometers across. Is there a name for a number that large? According to Big Bang theory and subsequent observations, the universe is expanding, and accelerating outwards, just like an explosion. The main opposition to this expansion is the amount of gravity generated by all the matterwithin the container,slowing downthe growth of space. Using mathematics and observations, astronomers have calculated the amount of "visible" matter available, but it doesn't appear to account for all the gravity we think there should be.We are now searching for a theoretical type of matterdubbed "dark matter", which may generate the gravity we expect to see. If the amount of gravity in the universe is greater than a particular threshold, it could slow, stop and even reverse the expansion, causing all matter to close back in toward the original location of the Big Bang. This could cause a "Big Crunch" and perhaps another Big Bang, creating a whole new, fresh universe. This supposed cyclical nature of the universe is controversial and as the cycle takes place over tens of billions of years, we are unlikely to ever know for sure.