the big bang Flashcards
how was the universe created
the development of the universe from a tiny point of infinite space called a singularity
einstein’s energy equation
E = mc^2
- suggesting that mass can turn into energy and vice versa
the first epoch
planck epoch, the time when the universe stayed as a singularity
- lasted for 1 x 10^-43 seconds
the second epoch
inflationary epoch, the expansion of the universe
- lasted about 1 x 10^-32 seconds
the third epoch
quark epoch
- cooling of the universe means plasma clumps together into particles
- electrons + basic sub-atomic particles are formed
- quarks are formed
what is quark
- basic building block of matter
- protons + neutrons are three quarks each
the fourth epoch
the Hadron Epoch
- t = 1 seconds
- lower temperatures allow quarks to bond as protons and neutrons through nuclear fusion
the fifth epoch
epoch of nucleosynthesis
- nuclei are made as neutrons and protons are gravitationally attracted to each other
- hydrogen + helium created w/ no electrons
what happens at the end of nucleosynthesis
fusion stops across the universe because universe’s average energy < energy for fusion
- 75% hydrogen
- 25% helium
- >1% other elements
300,000 years after nucleosynthesis…
the Photon epoch
- photons rebound around particles, trapped by free electrons and creates light
dark epoch
- after the photon epoch
- 3000oC, electrons captured by nuclei into atoms
- electrons bonded, photons/light released
- nothing able to produce light, therefore dark
- gravity pulls matter into clumps, forming cosmic dust cloud and nebulae
- stars born from nebulae
timeline of big bang
- singularity + planck epoch
- inflationary epoch
- quark epoch
- hadron epoch
- nucleosynthesis
- photon epoch
- dark epoch
- star formation
