Final Stretch 1 (50% of Final) Flashcards
What does the size of the universe mean about the distance between the objects in the universe?
If the universe is getting bigger, then the space between the objects is getting bigger too
What happens to the size of the objects as the universe expands?
The gravitational energy keeps them together so they do not change size. Gravity is much stronger than the expansion for
What happens to the wavelength of light waves as they travel through the universe?
They stretch and their wavelength increases.
What is cosmological redshift?
The redshifting of light waves as they travel through space
What is the relationship between redshift and the distance from an object?
The further away you are, the more redshifted it becomes
Is the of expansion of the universe constant over time?
NO
What is Rdot?
The rate of change of the expansion of the universe
What is H?
Hubble’s constant (the rate of expansion of the universe)_
What is the current value of H?
Around 68km/sec
How do you calculate th Hubble Constant?
1/Hubble time
Is the Hubble Constant actually constant?
NO. It has changed over time
What does it mean for the age of the universe when Hubble’s constant is larger?
Th universe is younger; the speed of the universe expanding is faster, so there is less time for it to have grown
What is the issue with the Hubble constant being too large?
Wee know there to be objects in the universe that are 13bn years old. If the constant is too large, then the age of the universe will be younger than the age of these objects.
What is Hubble Time?
The age of the universe as it applies to the Hubble constant
How does the Hubble time actually relate to the ag of the universe?
The Hubble Time is only true for a handful of conditions in thee universe. It does not likely indicate the true age of the universe
What does the cosmological principle mean for the expansion of the universe?
The Hubble constant will be the same everywhere
What is k?
The curvature constant
What are the 3 possible values of k?
0, 1, -1
What happens when k=0?
The universe is flat
What happens when k=1?
the universe is closed/spherical
What happens when k=-1
the universe is open
What is R(t)?
Essentially, it is the radius of the universe
What happens if outward expansion is greater than the force of gravity?
The universe will continue to expand forever
In which universe could you hypothetically see the back of your head in?
closed universe
What is critical density?
Th density of the universe where if the density is large than it, the universe will eventually collapse and if it is smaller it will expand forever
What is the current density of the universe?
6 protons per metre cubed
What would the age of the universe be in a close universe with reference to the Hubble time?
less than 2/3 of the Hubble time
What would the age of the universe be for a flat universe with reference to the Hubble time?
2/3 of the Hubble time
What would the age of the universe be for an open universe with reference to the Hubble time?
greater than 2/3 of the Hubble time
What does the Friedman Equation describe?
The relationship between the rate of expansion, size of the universe and stuff within the universe
What does Hubble’s theory of expansion imply about the Big Bang?
Since the universe is constantly expanding, there must have been a singular point at which it began
How are matter and energy related? What does this mean?
e=mc squared
This means that you can start with pure energy and get matter (and vice verse)
What can light create?
matter and antimatter
If matter and antimatter both annihilate each other, and both of these were created when the earth begins, then why do we have any matter at all?
When matter and antimatter annihilate each other, there is a tiny bit of matter left over. This accumulates over time