book 1 Flashcards
(11 cards)
What is the theory called that explains the universe’s expansion?
The Big Bang
The Big Bang theory suggests that the universe started from a tiny point and has been expanding ever since.
Who developed the theory of the Big Bang in the 1920s?
Fr. Georges Lemaître
Lemaître was a Roman Catholic priest and a scientist from Belgium.
What term did Lemaître use to refer to the initial state of the universe?
Primeval atom
This term refers to the tiny point from which the universe began to expand.
What was the initial reception of Lemaître’s theory of expansion?
Great scepticism
Scientists previously believed the universe was in a steady static state.
Which astronomer invented a telescope that observed galaxies beyond the Milky Way?
Edwin Hubble
Hubble’s observations contributed significantly to the understanding of the universe’s expansion.
What did Edwin Hubble notice about the light from distant galaxies?
The light was a little darker in color
This change in light suggested to Hubble that galaxies are moving apart.
True or False: Before the 20th century, scientists believed the universe was expanding.
False
Prior to the 20th century, it was assumed that everything remained in the same place in space.
Fill in the blank: The discovery that the universe is expanding occurred in the ______ century.
20th
This discovery led to the acceptance of the Big Bang theory.
What is the implication of galaxies moving apart in relation to the universe’s history?
There must have been a time when they were closer together
This suggests that the universe was once smaller than it is now.
What did scientists assume about the universe before the 20th century?
Everything just stayed in the same place in space
This static view changed with the discovery of the universe’s expansion.
What is one of the key conclusions drawn from the observation of the universe’s expansion?
The universe must have been squeezed into a tiny point
This conclusion supports the Big Bang theory.
