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Chapter 22: Problem 1

The force that acts to slow the expansion of the universe is the ______ force. a. gravitational b. electromagnetic c. strong nuclear d. weak nuclear

Short Answer

Expert verified
a. gravitational

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Question

The problem is to determine which force slows the expansion of the universe.
02

Consider Each Option

Review the nature of each force: - Gravitational: A force that attracts two bodies toward each other. - Electromagnetic: A force between charged particles. - Strong Nuclear: A force that holds the nuclei of atoms together. - Weak Nuclear: A force responsible for radioactive decay.
03

Analyze the Forces' Role in the Universe

The expansion of the universe is influenced by forces throughout the cosmos. Gravity is the force that acts on a cosmic scale, attracting mass to counteract the expansion.
04

Choose the Correct Answer

Given that gravity is a long-range force acting on mass, it is the only force listed that can slow the expansion of the universe.

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Key Concepts

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

Cosmic Expansion
The universe is constantly expanding, a phenomenon known as 'cosmic expansion.' This concept stems from the Big Bang theory, which proposes that the universe began from a single point and has been expanding ever since.
Edwin Hubble discovered that distant galaxies appear to be moving away from us, which formed the foundation for our understanding of cosmic expansion.
As the universe expands, galaxies, stars, and other celestial bodies move further apart.
This expansion is not due to objects moving through space, but rather space itself stretching. Understanding this phenomenon helps us grasp the scale and dynamics of the universe.
Forces of Nature
There are four fundamental forces of nature that govern interactions in the universe:
  • Gravitational Force
  • Electromagnetic Force
  • Strong Nuclear Force
  • Weak Nuclear Force
Each of these forces has distinct properties and roles:
  • Gravitational Force: This is the force of attraction between two masses. It is the weakest of the four forces but dominates on large scales like stars and galaxies.
  • Electromagnetic Force: This force acts between charged particles. It is responsible for electricity, magnetism, and light.
  • Strong Nuclear Force: This force binds protons and neutrons within an atomic nucleus. It is the strongest force but acts over very short distances.
  • Weak Nuclear Force: This force causes radioactive decay and nuclear fusion processes in stars. It is weaker than the strong force and acts over very short distances.
Gravitational force, due to its long range and its effect on mass, is crucial in the context of cosmic phenomena, including slowing down the cosmic expansion.
Gravity and Universe
Gravity plays a central role in the structure and behavior of the universe.
It is the force that attracts objects with mass toward each other.
  • Formation of Celestial Bodies: Gravity is responsible for the formation of stars, planets, and other celestial bodies by pulling together dust and gas.
  • Galactic Structures: It helps form and maintain galaxies and larger structures like galaxy clusters.
In the context of cosmic expansion, gravity acts to slow down the expansion process.
This is because massive objects exert a gravitational pull, opposing the outward push of the expansion.
The balance between the expansion of the universe and the pull of gravity is a fundamental aspect of cosmology.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Suppose you measure the angles of a triangle and find that they add to \(185^{\circ} .\) From this you can determine that the space the triangle occupies is a. flat. b. positively curved. c. negatively curved. d. filled with dark matter.

Why is particle physics important for understanding the early universe?

The universe today has an average density \(\rho_{0}=3 \times 10^{-28} \mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3}\) Assuming that the average density depends on the scale factor, as \(\rho=\rho_{0} / R_{\mathrm{U}}^{3},\) what was the scale factor of the universe when its average density was about the same as Earth's atmosphere at sea level \(\left(\rho=1.23 \mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3}\right) ?\)

What is the flatness problem, and why has it created difficulties for cosmologists?

During the period of inflation, the universe may have briefly expanded at \(10^{30}\) (a million trillion trillion) or more times the speed of light. Why did this ultra-rapid expansion not violate Einstein's special theory of relativity, which says that neither matter nor communication can travel faster than the speed of light?
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