The Big Bang Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is the Big Bang theory?
The theory that the universe began as a hot, dense point and has been expanding ever since.
True or False: The Big Bang theory suggests that the universe is constantly shrinking.
False
When did the Big Bang occur?
Approximately 13.8 billion years ago.
What evidence supports the Big Bang theory?
Cosmic microwave background radiation, redshift of galaxies, abundance of light elements.
What is cosmic microwave background radiation?
Radiation left over from the early universe that fills the entire cosmos.
What is redshift of galaxies?
The phenomenon where light from distant galaxies is shifted towards longer wavelengths, indicating they are moving away from us.
What are light elements?
Hydrogen, helium, and small amounts of lithium and beryllium, which were formed in the early universe.
What is the singularity in the Big Bang theory?
A point of infinite density and temperature where the universe began.
What is the age of the universe according to the Big Bang theory?
Approximately 13.8 billion years.
What is the cosmic microwave background radiation temperature currently?
Approximately 2.73 Kelvin.
What is the name of the mission that mapped the cosmic microwave background radiation in detail?
Planck mission.
What is the term used to describe the expansion of the universe?
Cosmological expansion.
What is the fate of the universe according to the Big Bang theory?
Either it will continue expanding indefinitely or it will eventually collapse in a ‘Big Crunch’.
What is the ‘Big Crunch’ in the context of the Big Bang theory?
The hypothetical scenario where the universe stops expanding and collapses back in on itself.
What is the name of the galaxy that is closest to the Milky Way?
Andromeda Galaxy.
What is the Hubble constant?
A measure of the rate of expansion of the universe.
What is dark energy?
A mysterious force that is causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate.
What is dark matter?
An invisible substance that makes up a large portion of the universe’s mass and has gravitational effects on visible matter.
What is the name of the satellite launched by NASA to study the cosmic microwave background radiation?
Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP).
What is the term used to describe the initial rapid expansion of the universe?
Inflation.
What is the name of the scientist who first proposed the Big Bang theory?
Georges Lemaître.
What is the name of the physicist who provided theoretical support for the Big Bang theory?
George Gamow.
What is the name of the astronomer who discovered the redshift of galaxies, providing evidence for the expanding universe?
Edwin Hubble.
What is the name of the element that is most abundant in the universe?
Hydrogen.
