Topic questions Space physics The origin of the Universe
5 questions · 24 marks · about 30 minutes
Which of these statements about the Universe is implied by the Cosmological principle?
A Dark energy is found in every galaxy
B Kepler’s laws can be applied to any solar system
C Matter and anti-matter were formed in the very early Universe
D Microwave background radiation corresponds to a temperature of 2.7 K
Calculate the magnitude of the recession velocity of M87.
velocity =........ km s–1
Estimate the distance in light years to M87 using Hubble’s law.
Hubbles constant Ho = 2.5 × 10–19 s–1
Estimate the percentage uncertainty in the distance calculated in part (b) using the width of the emission line in the diagram.
percentage uncertainty = +/–........ %
Other methods have shown M87 is actually 50 million light years from Earth.
Suggest why M87 might contradict Hubble’s law.
Suggest one reason why the Big Bang theory is still the accepted model of the origin of the Universe.
During the evolution of the universe there was a period of inflation.
Which forms of matter, if any, existed 10–10 s after the big bang?
A Atoms
B Leptons
C None
D Quarks
Your answer
Describe the origin of the microwave background radiation.
The figure below shows how the intensity of the microwave background radiation varies with its wavelength 
.
The peak intensity is at a wavelength of 1.1 mm.
This spectrum of microwave background radiation changes with temperature according to Wien’s displacement law.
Suggest and explain how the spectrum might have looked in the distant past. You may draw on the figure to support your answer.
Calculate the energy of a photon which has a wavelength of 1.1 mm.
Estimate the number of photons of microwave background radiation incident per second on the back of your hand.
Assume that all emitted photons have the energy calculated in (ii), and that the back of your hand has a surface area of 150 cm2.
number of photons per second =........ s–1
Which column A, B, C or D, shows the correct sequence for the evolution of the Universe between the Big Bang and the formation of stars?
| A | B | C | D |
| Universe starts to expand ↓ quarks and leptons form ↓ hadrons form ↓ nuclei form ↓ atoms form | Universe starts to expand ↓ hadrons form ↓ quarks and leptons form ↓ nuclei form ↓ atoms form | quarks and leptons form ↓ nuclei form ↓ Universe starts to expand ↓ atoms form ↓ hadrons form | quarks and leptons form ↓ hadrons form ↓ Universe starts to expand ↓ nuclei form ↓ atoms form |
Your answer
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