Which theory of how the universe formed is best supported by evidence of radio waves detected in space?(1 point)
big crunch theory
heliocentric model
steady state theory
big bang theory
big bang theory
The best-supported theory for the formation of the universe, based on evidence of radio waves detected in space, is the Big Bang theory. The discovery of the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMB) in the 1960s provided compelling evidence for the Big Bang. The CMB is the remnants of the radiation produced approximately 380,000 years after the Big Bang, and it manifests as faint radio waves. This discovery provided strong confirmation for the idea that the universe began with a highly energetic event known as the Big Bang.
The theory of how the universe formed that is best supported by evidence of radio waves detected in space is the Big Bang theory.
To understand why the Big Bang theory is supported by radio wave evidence, we need to look at the concept of cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB). The CMB is a form of radio waves that fills the entire universe. It was discovered accidentally in 1965 and is considered one of the strongest pieces of evidence for the Big Bang theory.
Here's how you can connect the evidence of radio waves to the Big Bang theory:
1. Start by understanding what the Big Bang theory proposes: It suggests that the universe originated from a singular point of infinite density and temperature, and has been expanding ever since.
2. During the initial moments after the Big Bang, the universe was extremely hot and dense. As it expanded and cooled down, a significant event called recombination occurred. Recombination refers to the point when the universe cooled enough for atoms to form, allowing light to escape freely.
3. The CMB is the residual radiation left over from this recombination event, approximately 380,000 years after the Big Bang occurred. It is in the form of radio waves, which have been stretched and shifted to microwave frequencies due to the expansion of the universe.
4. The CMB is detected uniformly from all directions in space and has a very specific pattern called anisotropy, meaning there are small temperature variations across the sky. These temperature fluctuations in the CMB provide detailed information about the early universe and support the predictions made by the Big Bang theory.
By analyzing the properties and characteristics of the CMB, scientists have been able to gather substantial evidence in support of the Big Bang theory. Therefore, based on the presence and properties of the detected radio waves (CMB), the Big Bang theory is the most strongly supported explanation for the formation of the universe.