Formation of the Formation of the UniverseUniverse

Taken from the Hubble Space Telescope

http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/bigbang.htm

Think About….Think About….

How old is our How old is our universe?universe?

How did it come to How did it come to exist?exist?

Where is my place Where is my place in the universe?in the universe?

CosmologyCosmology

Cosmology~ The study of the origin Cosmology~ The study of the origin and future of the universeand future of the universe

When we talk about the Big Bang When we talk about the Big Bang Theory-it is just that….a THEORYTheory-it is just that….a THEORY

This theory has been tested by This theory has been tested by observations and experimentsobservations and experiments

A Big Bang!!!A Big Bang!!!

The Big Bang Theory states that the The Big Bang Theory states that the universe began with a tremendous universe began with a tremendous explosion about 15-20 billion years explosion about 15-20 billion years agoago

All the contents of the universe were All the contents of the universe were gathered together under extreme gathered together under extreme pressure, temperature, and density pressure, temperature, and density in in a very tiny spot.a very tiny spot.

Temperatures rose Temperatures rose extremely high extremely high (500,000,000 (500,000,000 degrees Fahrenheit)degrees Fahrenheit)

Gases formedGases formed 300 mil. Years later, 300 mil. Years later,

stars and galaxies stars and galaxies began to appearbegan to appear

Created space, time, Created space, time, matter, energy, and matter, energy, and gravity.gravity.

Supporting the TheorySupporting the Theory

1. In 1964, Arno Penzia 1. In 1964, Arno Penzia and Robert Wilson and Robert Wilson discovered there was discovered there was Cosmic microwave Cosmic microwave background radiation background radiation in spacein space

The explanation for The explanation for the radiation is that it the radiation is that it is the remnants of is the remnants of heat left over from the heat left over from the big bang explosionbig bang explosion

http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/bigbang.htm

2. 1992, COBE (Cosmic Background Explorer) 2. 1992, COBE (Cosmic Background Explorer) looked fifteen billion light years into space & looked fifteen billion light years into space & examined the cosmic microwave background examined the cosmic microwave background radiationradiation Concluded that 99.97% of the energy in the Concluded that 99.97% of the energy in the

Universe was created in a short period of time Universe was created in a short period of time (within one year)(within one year)

3. Since H, He, & Li are the basic light elements 3. Since H, He, & Li are the basic light elements these should have been created shortly after the these should have been created shortly after the Big Bang…if they were created before other Big Bang…if they were created before other elements then they should be the most abundantelements then they should be the most abundant

The results…The results… scientists have observed that approximately scientists have observed that approximately

24% of all matter in the universe is He24% of all matter in the universe is He stars are approximately 96-99% H and He.stars are approximately 96-99% H and He.

4. The 4. The Expanding UniverseExpanding Universe also also supports the big bang…supports the big bang…

In the 1920’s Edwin Hubble noticed In the 1920’s Edwin Hubble noticed light from distant galaxies. He noticed light from distant galaxies. He noticed that the light was moving away from that the light was moving away from us!us!

Concluded…Concluded… No matter what direction we look, No matter what direction we look,

galaxies are moving away from galaxies are moving away from usus ALL galaxies are moving away from ALL galaxies are moving away from

each other each other The farther away the galaxy from us The farther away the galaxy from us

the faster it is movingthe faster it is moving

http://cmb.physics.wisc.edu/tutorial/hubble.html

What would it look like to watch the What would it look like to watch the universe evolve backwards through universe evolve backwards through

time?time?

The Raisin-Bread ModelThe Raisin-Bread Model

Each raisin represents a galaxy. They are distributed throughout the dough, just as the galaxies are distributed throughout the universe.

As the dough rises, the raisins move farther away from each other. This is like the universe, the longer it exists, the farther the galaxies move away from each other.

ReferencesReferences

Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Holt Holt science and technology.science and technology. 2002. 2002.

http://cmb.physics.wisc.edu/tutorial/http://cmb.physics.wisc.edu/tutorial/hubble.htmlhubble.html

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