River Model of the Universe

The River Model of the Universe visualizes space as a flowing river, with galaxies carried along by its current. In this analogy, the river’s flow represents the expansion of the universe, causing galaxies to move away from each other over time. This model helps illustrate how space itself is stretching, rather than objects simply moving through a static backdrop. While simplified, it effectively conveys how cosmic expansion impacts the large-scale structure of the universe, emphasizing that galaxies are carried apart by the fabric of space flowing outward, much like leaves drifting downstream.