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The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang is a physical theory that describes how the universe expanded from an initial state of high density and temperature in a single point
The Doppler Effect
The apparent change in the frequency of a sound or light wave caused by the relative motion between the source and the observer
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
The formation of new atomic nuclei (mostly hydrogen and helium) during the first few minutes of the Big Bang.
Microwave background Radiation
The microwave signal of uniform intensity is detected from all directions of the universe. It was predicted by Ralph Alpherin and discovered by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson.
Hubble's Law
Galaxies are moving away from Earth at speeds proportional to their distance. The farther a galaxy is, the faster it moves away from us. V = H x d
Red Shift
Change in frequency of a wave caused by the expansion of space itself, it's spectral lines are shifted towards the red end if the spectrum
Age of the Universe
13.7 billion years
Came into existence with the Big Bang
Time, Energy, Space
What is antimatter?
It consists of particles that are just like those of ordinary matter except with opposite properties, such as opposite charge.
When were protons, neutrons, and electrons formed?
Roughly 1 second after the big bang
What were the first elements created and why?
Hydrogen and helium, because they're the lightest elements. They were created 3 minutes after the Big Bang.
Were the atoms immediately able to acquire electrons?
No. It happened roughly 300,000 years after the universe was born, at around 3000 degrees Celsius
When did the universe begin to expand and cool?
Immediately after coming into existence
What was the starting temperature of the universe?
10^32 degrees celsius
When and how were the first stars formed?
The first stars were made up of mostly Hydrogen and some Helium. They were made about 100 million years after the Big Bang by gravity pulling them together.
How did gravity play a role as the universe cooled?
Making a more structured universe with stars and galaxies.
Who first proposed the Big Bang Theory?
Georges Lemaître.
When was the Big Bang Theory proposed?
1927
Do we know what caused the Big Bang?
No.
What happens when antimatter and matter come in contact with each other?
They destroy eachother
What are the 3 main pieces of evidence that support the Big Bang Theory?
Evidence of the expansion of the Universe. Discovered in 1929 by Edward Hubble. (Hubble's Law)
The abundance of the light elements (Hydrogen, Helium, and Lithium) in the universe. Elements were first fused within the first five minutes after the Big Bang.
Cosmic Microwave Radiation (CMB) or Microwave Background Radiation is the remnant heat leftover from the Big Bang.
What is the cosmological constant?
A Theory Einstein added to general relativity that allowed for a static universe. (The universe is NOT static)
Which theory was the beginning of the Big Bang Theory
Einstein's General Relativity Theory
Is the rate of expansion the same for all galaxies?
No. The more distant a galaxy is the faster it moves away from us.
Nucleosynthesis
the formation of nuclei as a result of fusion and other nuclear processes
Where do elements heavier than Lithium come from?
The elements are synthesized in stars
Up to which elements can elements be synthesized in stars?
Elements heavier than iron cannot be produced in living stars because iron is too stable, it doesn't want to fuse with anything else.
Where do elements heavier than iron come from?
Supernova explosions and exterior envelopes of giant stars
What is the Microwave Background Radiation like today?
It is extremely cold. 2.275 degrees above absolute 0, and this temperature is extremely uniform.. It is invisible to the naked eye and mostly shines in the microwave part of the electromagnetic spectrum
What are the current theories on the end of the universe?
It will continue to expand, forever and ever.
What is an H-R diagram?
The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is a scatter plot of stars classifies stars based on the stars' color, temperature, size, chemical composition, luminosity, and brightness.
How are stars classified?
color, temperature, size, chemical composition, luminosity, and brightness
Nebula
a giant cloud of dust and gas in space
Protostar
the earliest stage of a star's life -- gravity pulls nebul together to form this
Red Giant
As a medium star uses up its fuel, it becomes this type of star.
Red Super Giant
A big star will swell into one of these as it begins to lose its fuel.
White Dwarf
Stage in which a star has used up its fuel and its outer layers escape into space, leaving behind a hot, glowing core.
Supernova
the explosion of a dying supergiant star
neutron star
the extremely small, dense remains of a high-mass star after a supernova. 3x mass of the sun
Pulsar
A neutron star that produces radio waves, remnant of a high-mass star
Black Hole
An object in space whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape. Happens when a high-mass star collapses on itself
Life Cycle of a Low-Mass star
Stellar nebula, average star- main sequence star, red giant, planetary nebula, white dwarf, and eventually black dwarf.
Life Cycle of a High-Mass Star
Stellar nebula, massive star - main sequence star, red super-giant, supernova, and eventual neutron star/pulsar or black hole..
Which star classification has a longer lifespan?
Low-mass star
What elements come from stars?
Every element until iron(26) is formed in a star.
How are elements heavier than iron formed?
supernova explosions
Layers of the sun in order
core, radiative zone, convection zone, photosphere, , chromosphere, and corona
Inner Layers of the Sun
core, radiative zone, convection zone
Outer Layers of the sun
Photosphere, chromosphere, corona
Core
The center of the sun, where nuclear fusion occurs
Radiative Zone
a very dense region of the sun in which the atoms are so closely packed that light can take millions of years to pass through
Convection Zone
The outermost layer of the sun's interior where hot plasma moves up toward the surface and cooler plasma moves deeper into the interior
Photosphere
the visible surface of the sun, gives us the light we can see. It is also where we see sun spots.
Chromosphere
The middle layer of the sun's atmosphere. It is red.
Corona
the outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere, extremely hot but dim region of plasma
How does the sun produce energy?
through nuclear fusion
What are solar storms?
Irregular solar activity; a large explosion in the suns atmosphere that can negatively effect earth.
How do we predict solar storms?
By looking at the complexity, size, growth patterns, the mixing of magnetic field lines in the sun, and by observing bands of plasma called filaments. These all tell us about an increased potential of solar storms in the sun
What influences the magnetic field lines in the Sun
The motion of plasma in the star (mixes them up near the equator and the poles), swirling currents in the convection zone.
What happens when the magnetic field lines break the suns surface?
They divert the flow of plasma. which can lead to sun spots, or it can "short circuit" and lead to a solar flare
What is the purpose of Earth's magnetic field (The Magnetosphere)?
Protects the earth from harmful solar storms
How does space weather impact earth?
Space Weather Interacts With Earth's Atmosphere Space weather can also interfere with satellite electronics, radio communications, GPS signals, spacecraft orbits, and even electrical power grids on Earth.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
the complete range of electromagnetic waves placed in order of increasing frequency
Nuclear fusion
The process by which two or more small nuclei fuse to make a bigger nucleus
How is energy released during nuclear fusion?
Light and Heat
what layer of the sun is responsible for the Northern lights?
Corona
the hottest star is what color
blue
what layer of the sun is shown in solar eclipse?
chromosphere
Luminosity
Brightness
what is related to how much light reaches a point per second
Note
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