Big Bang Flashcards
Big bang theory
most plausible theory of the origin of universe
13.8 billion years ago
Singularity
Singularity
entire universe was compressed into a very small ball with infinite density and heat
Inflation
singularity expanded so fast it appeared as an explosion
separation of strong nuclear force
Inflation
what resulted from singularity
space, matter, time, energy
Formation of Matter and Antimatter
Equal amounts of quarks and antiquarks or
matters and antimatters formed.
Does antimatter still exist?
no, but can be made synthetically
Why is there no more antimatter?
matter and antimatter cancelled each other. (they had a ratio of 1 billion 1 matter: 1 billion antimatter)
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
cooling of the universe resulted in quarks cooling down and allowing them to bind together, forming protons and neutrons
Elements formed from big bang nucleosynthesis
hydrogen, helium, and trace amounts of lithium
Heat death
no heat = no energy; everything will disappear eventually
Particle annihilation
matter + antimatter = energy
Baryogenesis
Quarks and antiquarks or matters and antimatters annihilate each other
upon contact. quarks survive, which will ultimately combine to form matter.
Law of charges
same charges repel, different charges attract
Recombination
The universe’s temperature and density continue to fall, and ionized hydrogen and helium atoms capture electrons. Universe becomes transparent to light due to electrons being bound to atoms.
Composition of the universe after recombination
75% hydrogen, 25% helium, trace amounts of lithium
Dark Ages
No formation of stars or collision of something
or anything. the universe became dormant and dark
Formation of Stars and Galaxies
hydrogen gas gets clumped together and put under pressure by gravity. stars formed.
Fundamental forces
Gravitational, weak nuclear, electromagnetic, strong nuclear
Gravitational
acts on all objects with mass
Weak nuclear
nuclear decay
Electromagnetic
interaction between charged particles
Strong nuclear
binds nucleon (protons & neutrons) in the nucleus
Weakest force
gravitational
Strongest force
strong nuclear
Big bang nucleosynthesis
hydrogen, helium, and trace amounts of lithium
Formation of light elements
Big bang nucleosynthesis
Stellar nucleosynthesis
Lithium to Iron (3 - 26)
Formation of heavy elements
Stellar nucleosynthesis
Supernova nucleosynthesis
Cobalt to Uranium (27 - 92)
Nuclear Fusion
nucleus + nucleus = larger nuclei (H - Fe)
Nuclear Fission
nucleus splits into small nuclei (Co - U); used in nuclear powerplants
Proton-proton chain
average star: H –> He
CNO cycle
massive star: H –> He
Tri-alpha
once a star uses up the hydrogen in its core, the pp chain and CNO cycle stops
Alpha Ladder
A star accumulates more mass and
grows into a red supergiant. H –> Fe (and everything in between)
Supernova
last phase of a dying star’s life; when a star cannot have nuclear fusion
products of supernova
cobalt to uranium
Neutron Capture
Neuron particle is added to the seed nucleus of
iron.
S-process
A slow rate of capturing neutrons while
there is a faster rate of radioactive
decay
R-process
A faster rate of capturing neutrons
before they undergo radioactive decay.
Thus, more neutrons can be combined
in the nucleus.
