Question

Could gravity slow the expansion of the universe?

Answer 1

Yes gravity could slow the expansion of the universe if omega was greater than one but the evidence is that gravity is not strong enough.

Explanation:

For years the question has been is there enough dark matter to create enough gravitational force to slow and then reverse the expansion of the universe.

In 1998 measures of the expansion of the universe made by studying super novas showed that the rate of the expansion of the universe is increasing. This study done by the Lawence Berkley National Laboratory showed that rate of the expansion of the universe is increasing not slowing down. These result indicate that there is not enough matter and dark matter in the universe to slow down the expansion of the universe.

The implications are immense. This means that the universe will not come back together in a big crush, and that the big bang will not be repeated. It implies that the material universe is neither self existent nor eternal.

So yes it was possible that gravity could slow down the expansion of the universe if there were enough mass in the universe. The empirical evidence is that there is not enough mass, for gravitational forces to slow down the expansion of the universe.