Big Bang Flashcards
What is the Big Bang Theory?
The universe began about 13.7 billion years ago from a small dense point that exploded, causing rapid expansion.
Initially, all matter and energy was compressed into a tiny, hot, chaotic volume.
What occurred immediately after the Big Bang?
The universe was extremely hot and dense, leading to rapid expansion and cooling.
This cooling reduced density.
What subatomic particles formed seconds after the Big Bang?
Protons & neutrons.
These particles combined to create hydrogen after a few minutes.
What is nuclear fusion in the context of the Big Bang?
Energy allowed hydrogen nuclei to fuse into helium nuclei.
This process was crucial for the formation of the first atoms.
When did the first neutral atoms form after the Big Bang?
About 380,000 years later.
These atoms included electrons.
How was matter distributed in the early universe?
There were dense clumps of matter held by gravity, which evolved into stars, galaxies, and other structures.
What does looking at distant galaxies reveal?
Great distances in space and the ability to look back in time.
Light from these galaxies took billions of years to reach us.
What did many astronomers initially believe about the universe?
They believed the universe was static.
This belief was challenged by subsequent discoveries.
What significant discovery was made in 1964 regarding background radiation?
Background radiation was discovered by Bell Laboratories researchers using a microwave receiver.
This discovery provided evidence supporting the Big Bang Theory.
What did the static universe hypothesis predict regarding temperature?
It predicted a temperature of 0 K between objects.
The actual measured temperature was 3 K.
What was the impact of the discovery of background radiation on the scientific community?
It led nearly all astronomers to accept the Big Bang hypothesis.
What notable image did George Smoot capture related to the universe?
A picture of the universe when it was 12 hours old.
