The document is a chapter from an astronomy textbook discussing key concepts about the universe, including that:
1) Distant galaxies moving away in all directions implies the universe is expanding.
2) Hubble's constant can be used to estimate the universe is approximately 14 billion years old.
3) The cosmic microwave background radiation provides evidence for the Big Bang.
2. 1) the Milky Way must be located at the edge of the universe. 2) the Milky Way is at the center of the universe. 3) the universe is expanding. 4) the sky is dark at night. 5) the universe has not changed significantly. Question 1 Because distant galaxies in every direction are moving away from us,
3. 1) the Milky Way must be located at the edge of the universe. 2) the Milky Way is at the center of the universe. 3) the universe is expanding. 4) the sky is dark at night. 5) the universe has not changed significantly. Question 1 Because distant galaxies in every direction are moving away from us,
4. 1) the size of the universe. 2) the age of the universe. 3) the shape of the universe. 4) the temperature of the universe. 5) the distance the universe has expanded. Question 2 Hubble’s constant, H o , can be related to
5. 1) the size of the universe. 2) the age of the universe. 3) the shape of the universe. 4) the temperature of the universe. 5) the distance the universe has expanded. Question 2 Hubble’s constant, H o , can be related to H o is currently estimated to be about 70 km/sec/Mpc. This translates to an age for the universe of about 14 billion years.
6. 1) a Doppler shift of the random motions of galaxies. 2) an aging of light as the universe ages. 3) space itself expanding with time, stretching light. 4) the result of the Milky Way’s position at the center. 5) due to the temperature differences in the early and late universe. Question 3 The redshift of galaxies is explained best as
7. 1) a Doppler shift of the random motions of galaxies. 2) an aging of light as the universe ages. 3) space itself expanding with time, stretching light. 4) the result of the Milky Way’s position at the center 5) due to the temperature differences in the early and late universe. Question 3 The redshift of galaxies is explained best as As the universe expands, photons of radiation are stretched in wavelength as they move through space.
8. 1) is infinitely old and getting larger. 2) began expanding long ago, and has a finite age. 3) will slow down because of dark matter. 4) has repeatedly expanded and contracted. 5) will eventually stop and recollapse. Question 4 Hubble’s law implies that the universe
9. 1) is infinitely old and getting larger. 2) began expanding long ago, and has a finite age. 3) will slow down because of dark matter. 4) has repeatedly expanded and contracted. 5) will eventually stop and recollapse. Question 4 Hubble’s law implies that the universe Using the Hubble constant H o , astronomers can estimate that the universe was born about 14 billion years ago.
10. 1) evidence supporting the Big Bang. 2) proof that the universe is getting warmer. 3) a result of the hot intergalactic gas between clusters. 4) the observable form of dark energy. 5) released from the first generation of stars in the universe. Question 5 The cosmic microwave background radiation is
11. Question 5 The cosmic microwave background radiation is The radiation observed is the “fossil remnant” of the primeval fireball that existed at the very beginning of the universe. 1) evidence supporting the Big Bang. 2) proof that the universe is getting warmer. 3) a result of the hot intergalactic gas between clusters. 4) the observable form of dark energy. 5) released from the first generation of stars in the universe.
12. 1) is explained by General Relativity. 2) results from the presence of dark matter. 3) is a statement of Olbers’ paradox. 4) is the Cosmological Principle. 5) occurs if the universe is static and unchanging. Question 6 The darkness of the sky in an infinite universe
13. 1) is explained by General Relativity. 2) results from the presence of dark matter. 3) is a statement of Olbers’ paradox. 4) is the Cosmological Principle. 5) occurs if the universe is static and unchanging. Question 6 The darkness of the sky in an infinite universe If the universe is homogeneous in composition, and appears the same in all directions, then for the sky to be dark, it must be either finite in age, or evolving in time, or both.
14. 1) the universe will eventually stop expanding and recollapse. 2) dark matter will dominate over dark energy. 3) the universe will stop expanding and remain stationary. 4) dark energy will dominate over dark matter. 5) the universe will not stop expanding. Question 7 In a closed universe
15. 1) the universe will eventually stop expanding and recollapse. 2) dark matter will dominate over dark energy. 3) the universe will stop expanding and remain stationary. 4) dark energy will dominate over dark matter. 5) the universe will not stop expanding. Question 7 In a closed universe Greater density means more matter in a smaller volume, and gravity will be strong enough to stop the expansion and cause a “Big Crunch.”
16. 1) there is more matter than energy. 2) the universe is closed, and will recollapse. 3) the universe is open, and will keep expanding. 4) dark matter will dominate, and galaxies will stop expanding. 5) there was more helium than hydrogen created in the Big Bang. Question 8 If the density of the universe is greater than “critical”
17. 1) there is more matter than energy. 2) the universe is closed, and will recollapse. 3) the universe is open, and will keep expanding. 4) dark matter will dominate, and galaxies will stop expanding. 5) there was more helium than hydrogen created in the Big Bang. Question 8 If the density of the universe is greater than “critical”
18. 1) the universe cooled and formed neutral matter. 2) the cosmic microwave background radiation was released. 3) electrons recombined with protons. 4) hydrogen fused into deuterium and then helium. 5) the universe was governed by one unified super-force. Question 9 In the first few minutes after the Big Bang
19. Question 9 In the first few minutes after the Big Bang The production of elements heavier than hydrogen by nuclear fusion is “primordial nucleosynthesis.” The amount of deuterium we see today is an important clue to the density of this early universe. 1) the universe cooled and formed neutral matter. 2) the cosmic microwave background radiation was released. 3) electrons recombined with protons. 4) hydrogen fused into deuterium and then helium. 5) the universe was governed by one unified super-force.
20. 1) the Steady State Theory. 2) the Grand Unified Theory. 3) the Inflationary epoch. 4) dark matter. 5) decoupling of matter from radiation. Question 10 The universe appears flat; this is explained by
21. 1) the Steady State Theory. 2) the Grand Unified Theory. 3) the Inflationary epoch. 4) dark matter. 5) decoupling of matter from radiation. Question 10 The universe appears flat; this is explained by