Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 21: Problem 13

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.

Short Answer

Expert verified
d. the beginning of space and time.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the concept

The Big Bang is a scientific theory that explains the origin of the universe. It describes how the universe expanded from a very hot, dense state approximately 13.8 billion years ago.
02

Analyze option a

Option a suggests the Big Bang is a giant supernova explosion that triggered the formation of the Solar System. However, the Big Bang is about the creation of the entire universe, not just the Solar System.
03

Analyze option b

Option b claims the Big Bang is the explosion of a supermassive black hole. This is incorrect because the Big Bang is not related to black holes; it is about the initial expansion of the universe.
04

Analyze option c

Option c states the Big Bang is the eventual demise of the Sun. The Big Bang occurred long before the Sun existed, so this option is incorrect.
05

Analyze option d

Option d indicates the Big Bang is the beginning of space and time. This is correct, as the theory posits that the universe, along with space and time, began with the Big Bang.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

Key Concepts

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

Origin of the Universe
The origin of the universe is a question that has fascinated humans for centuries. The most widely accepted explanation among scientists is the Big Bang theory. According to this theory, the universe began as an incredibly hot and dense point about 13.8 billion years ago.

The Big Bang was not an explosion in space, but rather an expansion of space itself. This means that every point in the universe was once much closer together. The expansion caused space to stretch, leading to the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets, including our Earth.

Key points about the Big Bang theory:
  • The universe started from a singularity – a point of infinite density and temperature.
  • It marks the beginning of space and time.
  • The universe is still expanding today, which we can observe through the redshift of distant galaxies.
Understanding the Big Bang helps us comprehend the vast, changing cosmos we live in.
Expansion of the Universe
The expansion of the universe is a central idea in cosmology. From the moment of the Big Bang, the universe has been growing larger.

Scientists measure this expansion by observing distant galaxies. Due to the redshift effect, light from these galaxies shifts towards the red end of the spectrum. This indicates that they are moving away from us, confirming that the universe is expanding.

Important aspects of the universe's expansion include:
  • Hubble's Law: It states that the velocity at which a galaxy moves away from us is directly proportional to its distance.
  • Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation: This is the leftover radiation from the Big Bang, filling the universe and providing evidence of its early state.
  • Accelerating Expansion: Observations suggest that the rate of expansion is increasing, driven by a mysterious force called dark energy.
By studying the expansion, we can gain insights into the future of the universe, whether it will keep expanding forever or one day start contracting.
Space and Time
Space and time are two fundamental concepts that were forever changed by the Big Bang theory.

Before the Big Bang, there was no space, time, matter, or energy. The Big Bang created these dimensions, essentially 'beginning' the universe.

Albert Einstein's theory of General Relativity ties space and time together into a single continuum known as spacetime. This means that the fabric of the universe isn't static but can be bent and stretched by massive objects like stars and black holes.

Considerations of space and time in the universe:
  • Spacetime: The four-dimensional fabric that blends the three dimensions of space with the one dimension of time.
  • Relativity: Demonstrates how massive objects influence the curvature of spacetime, affecting how time flows.
  • Cosmic Scale: The vast distances in space and the timeline from the Big Bang to the present are almost beyond human comprehension.
Exploring space and time helps us understand our place in the universe and the fundamental laws that govern it.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

You observe a distant quasar in which a spectral line of hydrogen with rest wavelength \(\lambda_{\text {rest }}=121.6 \mathrm{nm}\) is found at a wavelength of \(547.2 \mathrm{nm}\). What is its redshift? When the light from this quasar was emitted, how large was the universe compared to its current size?

Assume that the most distant galaxies have a redshift \(z=10\) The average density of normal matter in the universe today is \(4 \times 10^{-28} \mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3} .\) What was its density when light was leaving those distant galaxies? (Hint: Keep in mind that volume is proportional to the cube of the scale factor.)

When they look into the universe, astronomers observe that nearly all galaxies are moving away from the Milky Way. This observation suggests that a. the Milky Way is at the center of the universe. b. the Milky Way must be at the center of the expansion. c. the Big Bang occurred at the location of the Milky Way. d. an observer in a distant galaxy would make the same observation.

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 (wwwaip.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?

The general relationship between recession velocity \(\left(v_{r}\right)\) and redshift \((z)\) is \(v_{r}=c z .\) This simple relationship fails, however, for very distant galaxies with large redshifts. Explain why.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Radiation

Read Explanation

Force

Read Explanation

Linear Momentum

Read Explanation

Space Physics

Read Explanation

Physical Quantities And Units

Read Explanation

Conservation of Energy and Momentum

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free