Physics - Five Biggest Mysteries in The Universe

Question 1

What is dark matter?

Answer 1

Dark matter is a substance that does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, detectable only through its gravitational effects and essential for holding galaxies together.

Question 2

How much of the universe is made up of dark matter?

Answer 2

Approximately 25% of the universe is composed of dark matter.

Question 3

What is the primary evidence for the existence of dark matter?

Answer 3

The primary evidence for dark matter is its gravitational effects on visible matter, such as galaxy cohesion and gravitational lensing.

Question 4

What percentage of the universe is dark energy?

Answer 4

About 70% of the universe consists of dark energy.

Question 5

What role does dark energy play in the universe?

Answer 5

Dark energy drives the accelerated expansion of the universe, acting opposite to gravity.

Question 6

Who discovered the universe’s expansion, and when?

Answer 6

Edwin Hubble discovered the universe’s expansion in 1929.

Question 7

What is antimatter?

Answer 7

Antimatter consists of particles that have the opposite charge and spin of their corresponding matter particles, annihilating matter when they meet.

Question 8

Why does the existence of antimatter pose a problem for physicists?

Answer 8

The universe shows an imbalance favoring matter, raising the ‘matter-antimatter asymmetry problem,’ as physics cannot fully explain why matter is more abundant.

Question 9

What is the ‘matter-antimatter asymmetry problem’?

Answer 9

This problem questions why there is more matter than antimatter in the universe, despite theory predicting equal amounts.

Question 10

Where is research on antimatter being conducted?

Answer 10

Research on antimatter is conducted at CERN, focusing on anti-hydrogen’s properties.

Question 11

What is the observable universe’s diameter?

Answer 11

The observable universe spans about 46 billion light-years in all directions.

Question 12

What might lie beyond the observable universe?

Answer 12

The universe may be infinite or loop back on itself, potentially hiding unknown cosmic structures.

Question 13

What is a black hole?

Answer 13

A black hole is a region of space with gravity so intense that nothing, not even light, can escape.

Question 14

What is the ‘singularity’ in a black hole?

Answer 14

The singularity is the center of a black hole, where density and gravity become infinite, and known physics breaks down.

Question 15

What is the ‘event horizon’?

Answer 15

The event horizon is the boundary around a black hole beyond which nothing can escape.

Question 16

What is the ‘black hole information paradox’?

Answer 16

This paradox questions whether information is lost when it falls into a black hole, challenging quantum mechanics.

Question 17

What theory explains the origin of the universe?

Answer 17

The Big Bang theory explains that the universe originated from an initial singularity that expanded over time.

Question 18

What is cosmic microwave background radiation?

Answer 18

It is thermal radiation from the early universe, providing evidence of the Big Bang.

Question 19

Why is the Big Bang not considered an explosion in space?

Answer 19

The Big Bang is an expansion of space itself, not an explosion within space.

Question 20

What major questions does the Big Bang theory raise?

Answer 20

Questions include: What preceded the Big Bang? Is our universe unique or part of a multiverse?

Question 21

What two concepts does the expansion of the universe challenge?

Answer 21

The expansion challenges both our understanding of dark energy and the limits of observable space.

Question 22

How do scientists detect the presence of dark matter?

Answer 22

Through gravitational lensing and its effects on the structure of galaxies.

Question 23

What are two main components of the universe that are not visible?

Answer 23

Dark matter and dark energy are the two primary invisible components of the universe.

Question 24

Why is dark energy described as intrinsic to space?

Answer 24

Because dark energy is not a physical substance but a force that increases as space expands.

Question 25

How does the accelerated expansion affect the observable universe?

Answer 25

It causes distant galaxies to move beyond light-speed limits, making parts of the universe unobservable.

Question 26

What are black holes often hypothesized to be?

Answer 26

They are hypothesized to be potential gateways to other parts of the universe or even different universes (wormholes).

Question 27

What does the matter-antimatter annihilation process release?

Answer 27

Matter and antimatter annihilate to release energy in the form of photons.

Question 28

Fill in the blank: The boundary around a black hole beyond which nothing can escape is called the _______.

Answer 28

Event Horizon

Question 29

Fill in the blank: The imbalance favoring matter over antimatter is known as the __________.

Answer 29

Matter-antimatter asymmetry problem

Question 30

Fill in the blank: The observable universe extends ________ light-years in all directions.

Answer 30

46 billion

Question 31

Fill in the blank: The cosmic ________ is a thermal remnant of the Big Bang.

Answer 31

Microwave background radiation