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Chapter 19: Problem 57

For more details on the history of the discovery of the expanding universe, go to the American Institute of Physics' "Cosmic Journey: A History of Scientific cosmology" website (http://aip.org/history/cosmology). Read through the sections titled "Island Universes," "The Expanding Universe," and “Big Bang or Steady State?" Why was Albert Einstein "irritated" by the idea of an expanding universe? What was the contribution of Belgian astrophysicist (and Catholic priest) Georges Lemaitre? What is the steady-state theory, and what was the main piece of evidence against it?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Einstein was irritated because he preferred a static universe; Lemaitre proposed the expanding universe and Big Bang Theory; the steady-state theory claims the universe is unchanging, contradicted by cosmic microwave background radiation.

Step by step solution

01

- Visit the Website

Go to the American Institute of Physics' 'Cosmic Journey: A History of Scientific Cosmology' website at http://aip.org/history/cosmology.
02

- Read the Assigned Sections

Read through the sections titled 'Island Universes,' 'The Expanding Universe,' and 'Big Bang or Steady State?' on the website.
03

- Identify Einstein's Reaction

Look for information on why Albert Einstein was 'irritated' by the idea of an expanding universe within the 'Expanding Universe' section. Record that Einstein was irritated because he preferred a static universe and had introduced the cosmological constant to his equations to avoid the possibility of expansion or contraction.
04

- Understand Lemaitre's Contribution

In the 'Expanding Universe' section, find information about Georges Lemaitre. Note that Lemaitre was the first to propose that the universe is expanding and suggested what became known as the 'Big Bang Theory,' where the universe started from a single point.
05

- Explain the Steady-State Theory

Locate the explanation of the steady-state theory under the 'Big Bang or Steady State?' section. Record that the steady-state theory posits that the universe has always looked the same and is unchanging over time, with new matter being continuously created to maintain a constant density.
06

- Identify Evidence Against Steady-State Theory

Find information about the main piece of evidence against the steady-state theory, which is the discovery of the cosmic microwave background radiation. This radiation provided proof that the universe was once in a much hotter and denser state, supporting the Big Bang theory over the steady-state theory.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Cosmology
Cosmology is the study of the structure, origin, and evolution of the universe. It seeks to understand the large-scale properties of the universe as a whole. Throughout history, various models have been proposed to explain the nature of the universe. These include ancient Earth-centered models, shifting to more advanced concepts like the Big Bang Theory.

Modern cosmology uses observations and theoretical physics to understand phenomena such as galaxy formation and cosmic background radiation.
  • It combines observational astronomy and particle physics.
  • Distances in the universe are measured in light-years.
  • Theories like relativity and quantum mechanics play crucial roles.
Overall, cosmology is a continuously evolving field, driven by both theoretical insights and technological advancements.
Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory posits that the universe began as a singular, infinitely dense point around 14 billion years ago. This point rapidly expanded and continues to expand even today.

Key aspects of the Big Bang Theory include:
  • The initial singularity where all matter and energy were concentrated.
  • The rapid expansion, known as cosmic inflation, that followed.
  • The formation of simple elements like hydrogen and helium within the first few minutes.
  • The universe cooling and forming stars and galaxies over billions of years.

The Big Bang Theory provides explanations for several key observations, such as the abundance of light elements and the cosmic microwave background radiation. It remains the most supported model of the universe's origins.
Steady-State Theory
The steady-state theory was an alternative to the Big Bang Theory proposed in the mid-20th century. According to this theory, the universe is eternal and unchanging on a large scale. It maintains a constant density as it expands by continuously creating new matter.

Key points of the steady-state theory:
  • The universe has no beginning or end.
  • New matter is created out of nothing as galaxies move apart.
  • The universe looks the same at any point in time.

The steady-state theory lost favor when evidence supporting the Big Bang, like the cosmic microwave background radiation, was discovered. These findings showed that the universe had a much hotter and denser beginning, which contradicts the steady-state theory.
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein, one of the greatest physicists of all time, made significant contributions to cosmology. His general theory of relativity, published in 1915, changed our understanding of gravity and the fabric of spacetime.

Einstein initially believed in a static universe. He introduced a 'cosmological constant' to his equations to counteract gravitational collapse and maintain this static state.
  • Einstein's assumption was that the universe was unchanging.
  • He was irritated by the idea of an expanding universe.
  • Later, he called the introduction of the cosmological constant his 'greatest blunder.'
Eventually, the observation by Edwin Hubble that the universe is expanding led to the acceptance of a dynamic universe, significantly influencing cosmological theories.
Georges Lemaitre
Georges Lemaitre, a Belgian astrophysicist and Catholic priest, was a key figure in the development of modern cosmology. In the 1920s, he was the first to suggest that the universe is expanding, and he proposed what became known as the 'Big Bang Theory.'

  • Lemaitre theorized that the universe began as a 'primeval atom,' a concept that later evolved into the idea of a singularity.
  • He showed that general relativity predicts an expanding universe.
  • Initially, Lemaitre's ideas faced skepticism but were later confirmed by observational evidence.

His work paved the way for subsequent discoveries and models of the universe.
Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation
Cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation is the afterglow of the Big Bang, providing strong evidence for the universe's hot and dense origins. Discovered in 1965 by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, the CMB is a nearly uniform radiation field that fills the universe.

  • CMB is a remnant of the hot, dense state of the early universe.
  • It shows slight temperature variations that correspond to the seeds of galaxies.
  • The discovery contradicted the steady-state theory, boosting the Big Bang model.

Analyzing the CMB allows scientists to understand the universe's conditions just 380,000 years after the Big Bang. It's a crucial component in the study of cosmology, offering a snapshot of the early universe.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Some galaxies have redshifts \(z\) that if equated to \(v / c\) correspond to velocities greater than the speed of light. Special relativity is not violated in this case a. because of relativistic beaming. b. because of superluminal motion. c. because redshifts carry no information. d. because these velocities do not measure motion through space.

The Big Bang is a. the giant supernova explosion that triggered the formation of the Solar System. b. the explosion of a supermassive black hole. c. the eventual demise of the Sun. d. the beginning of space and time.

The Hubble time \(\left(1 / H_{0}\right)\) represents the age of a universe that has been expanding at a constant rate since the Big Bang. Assuming an \(H_{0}\) value of \(70 \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{s} / \mathrm{Mpc}\) and a constant rate of expansion, calculate the age of the universe in years. How is the age different if \(H_{0}=75 \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{s} / \mathrm{Mpc} ?\left(\text { Note: } 1 \text { year }=3.16 \times 10^{7}\right.\) seconds and \(1 \mathrm{Mpc}=3.09 \times 10^{19} \mathrm{km} .\)

Cosmological redshifts are calculated from observations of spectral lines from a. individual stars in distant galaxies. b. clouds of dust and gas in distant galaxies. c. spectra of entire galaxies. d. rotations of the disks of distant galaxies.

As astronomers extend their distance ladder beyond \(30 \mathrm{Mpc}\) they change their measuring standard from Cepheid variable stars to Type Ia supernovae. Why is this change necessary? a. Type Ia supernovae are more luminous than Cepheid variables. b. Type Ia supernovae are less luminous than Cepheid variables. c. Type Ia supernovae vary more slowly than do Cepheid variables. d. Type Ia supernovae vary more quickly than do Cepheid variables.
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