Did the expansion rate of the universe exceed lightspeed?

LucyTheApe writes

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My simple consideration of symmetry produces a different result. If I consider a pea sized universe in two ways. The first is a pea sized universe where the particles of mass sit on surface of the pea. The particles will be accelerated towards the center of the pea as that is where the center of gravity is (irrespective of whether there is any particles within the pea). The second is a pea that is composed of particles throughout. In this case the center of gravity is in the same place and the particles will be accelerated towards it. Where is my logic wrong?

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Your logic is wrong at the most basic level, that you are still thinking in 3 dimensional terms.Remember that the pea is just an analogy. It helps for you to have read the book Flatland by Edwin Abbott. He describes a 2-dimensional world where inhabitants have problem understanding a 3-dimensional universe. He also describes a 1-dimensional world where inhabitants of that world have trouble understanding a 2-dimensional universe.It helps to realize your own limitation in dealing with extra-dimensional perceptions.When physicists refer to a pea size universe, they are only referring to the surface of the pea. As far as the surface of the pea is concern, there is no center. Apply this to our 3 spatial dimensional universe. There is no center. There was no center. There will never be a center. Just like the surface of an expanding sphere. There was no center. There is no center. There will never be a center.

LucyTheApe writes

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My understanding is that mass is a property of energy. The faster an object goes, the more energy it has which corresponds to a loss of mass.

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In classical mechanics, the energy an object has based on its speed is its kinetic energy given by the following equation.KE = (1/2)*m*v^2Where KE = kinetic energy, m is mass, and v is velocity.In Einsteinian physics, the equation is given as...E = (m*c^2)/{(1-v^2/c^2)^(1/2)}In other words, the denominator will be an imaginary number if the velocity of the mass is greater than the speed of light.It really helps if you try to understand the mathematical models rather than stumbling in the dark with layman's terms.