Big Bang Theory

Big Bang Theory

The theory that the universe originated in a huge explosion that released all matter and energy.

Doppler Effect

A change in sound frequency caused by the motion of the source moving toward or away from the observer.

Red Shift

The change in the wavelength of light due to an object moving away from the observer.

Cosmic Background Radiation

The electromagnetic radiation left over from the big bang

Time of Big Bang

10-15 billion years ago

Age of Universe

about 14 billion years old

First two elements created

Hydrogen and Helium

Composition of Early Universe

75% Hydrogen and 25% Helium

Evidence for the Big Bang because current measurements match with the predicted composition of the universe.

Wavelength

Distance from one point on a wave to the same point on another wave

Galaxy

Groups of billions of stars and the planets that orbit them (the stars)

Planetary system

Planets in space that are bound together by gravity and orbit a star.

Our galaxy

Milky Way

Universe

All existing matter, energy, and space

Edwin Hubble

Discovered many things one of which is that galaxies are moving away from us and those that are farthest away are moving the fastest

singularity

point where all matter, space and time was condensed before the Big Bang

cosmic background radiation

radiation uniformly detected from every direction in space; considered a remnant of the big bang

Nucleosynthesis

the natural formation of elements as a result of fusion during big bang, in stars, and from supernovas

life cycle of stars

The process by which a star changes during its lifetime. This depends on the mass of the star.

red shift

the change in the wavelength of light due to an object moving away from the observer.

blue shift

the displacement of the spectrum to shorter wavelengths in the light coming from objects moving toward the observer.