Structure and Composition of the Universe

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Questions and Answers

Who theorized that the universe began from a single primordial atom?

George Lemaitre (correct)

Arno Penzias

Robert Dicke

Edwin Hubble

What are the most abundant elements in the universe?

Lithium and Beryllium

Hydrogen and Helium (correct)

Nitrogen and Argon

Oxygen and Carbon

Which astronomer discovered redshifts of galaxies, supporting the notion that galaxies are moving away from Earth?

Arno Penzias

George Lemaitre

Edwin Hubble (correct)

Robert Wilson

What percentage of the universe is comprised of baryonic matter?

4.6% Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of dark matter?

It does not emit light and is detected through gravitational effects. Signup and view all the answers

What is dark energy theorized to do?

It accelerates the expansion of the universe. Signup and view all the answers

Who accidentally detected a disturbance considered as cosmic background radiation?

Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson Signup and view all the answers

What did Robert Dicke contribute to the understanding of cosmic background radiation?

He interpreted it as remnants of the Big Bang. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Ancient Egyptians believe about the creation of the universe?

It was manifested by the creator-god Ptah through words. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the beliefs attributed to the Kuba people of Central Africa regarding the universe's creation?

A giant god vomited the sun, stars, and moons into existence. Signup and view all the answers

Which hypothesis integrates both the Big Bang and Big Crunch concepts?

Cyclic Theory Signup and view all the answers

Which deities are associated with the creation beliefs in ancient India?

Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva Signup and view all the answers

What does the Steady State Theory assert about the universe?

The universe remains uniform in space and unchanged in time. Signup and view all the answers

How do the Manguayan people of the Philippines view the roles of their deities in creation?

They attribute creation to a collective effort of multiple gods. Signup and view all the answers

What is one consequence of the redshift phenomenon in astronomy?

It provides evidence for an expanding universe. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Big Bang theory primarily describe?

The event marking the universe's beginning. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Structure and Composition of the Universe

Universe consists of 4.6% baryonic matter (protons and neutrons).
Dark matter accounts for 24%, detected through gravitational effects, but does not emit light.
Dark energy composes 71.4% of the universe, linked to the accelerating expansion of the universe and hypothesized as a source of anti-gravity.

Non-Scientific Ancient Theories

Ancient Egypt: Ptah, the creator-god, conjured the universe by articulating imagined realities.
Kuba People (Central Africa): Mbob, a giant god, created the universe spontaneously, vomiting celestial bodies to form the sun, stars, and moons.
India:
- Brahma created the universe from his image.
- Vishnu is known as the preserver, while Shiva is believed to destroy the universe for recreation.
Philippines: Manguayan (Sea God), Lidagat (Sea Goddess), Kaptan (Sky God), and Lihangin (Wind God) were revered in creation beliefs.

Preceding Hypotheses to the Big Bang Theory

Oscillating Theory: Proposed by Alexander Alexandrovich Friedman, posits that the universe undergoes indefinite cycles of big bang and big crunch events.
Steady State Theory: Introduced by Hermann Bondi, Thomas Gold, and Fred Hoyle, suggests a uniform universe that changes but remains unchanging over time, contradicting the Law of Conservation of Matter.

Big Bang Theory

Formulated by George Lemaitre in the 1920s, suggests the universe originated from a singular primordial atom 13.8 billion years ago, expanding and cooling after a monumental explosion.
Recognized for the formation of the building blocks of matter during its expansion.

Evidence Supporting the Big Bang Theory

Edwin Hubble: Discovered galaxy redshifts, indicating galaxies are receding from Earth, supporting the expansion theory.
Hubble’s Law: Describes the correlation between galaxy distance and their redshift pattern.
Cosmic Background Radiation:
- Detected by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson; interpreted as remnants of the Big Bang.
- Robert Dicke contributed to the understanding of CBR as a signal of the universe's early state, receiving a Nobel Prize for his contributions.

Key Elements in the Universe

The most abundant elements in the universe are hydrogen and helium.

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Description

Explore the fascinating components of the universe, including baryonic matter, dark matter, and dark energy. Discover ancient theories of creation from different cultures and how they compare to modern scientific hypotheses like the Big Bang Theory.