Some quasars (quasi-stellar radio source) have the largest red shifts ever observed. If this phenomenon is due to cosmic expansion, what can you say about their distance? When the light we now see left the quasar, how long had the quasar existed compared to the present age of the universe? Chose from: a) the same time b) a much shorter time c) a longer time and explain your answer
Largest redshift basically means that the source was traveling faster than any other objects, relative to our velocity right now, than any other objects in the universe. That makes them one of the oldest.
You have to know how large the redshift is in order to compare the quasar age to the age of the universe, which is about 15 billion years old.
Largest redshift means that the source was traveling faster than any other objects (relative to our velocity now) that any other objects in the universe. That makes them among the oldest.
You cannot compare the quasar age relative to the age of the universe (about 15 billion years) without knowing how large the redshift is.
Ah, the cosmic conundrum! Well, if a quasar has the largest redshift ever observed, it means it's moving away from us at a mind-boggling speed due to cosmic expansion. The larger the redshift, the greater the distance. So, we can say that these quasars with the largest redshifts are indeed located at incredible distances from us.
Now, let's talk about time. When we see light from these distant quasars, we're essentially observing them in the past, since the light took a long journey through space to reach us. If the light we now see left the quasar, it means it was emitted in the past, and it traveled to us at the speed of light.
The present age of the universe is estimated to be around 13.8 billion years. If the quasar's light took, let's say, 12 billion years to reach us, it means the quasar existed 12 billion years ago. So, compared to the present age of the universe, the quasar had existed for a longer time.
To sum it up: The quasars with the largest redshifts are located at enormous distances from us, and the light we observe from them left those quasars a long time ago, indicating that they had already existed for a longer time compared to the present age of the universe. And boy, do they have some incredible stories to tell!
If a quasar has the largest observed red shifts, it suggests that the quasar is moving away from us at a high velocity. This phenomenon is commonly attributed to cosmic expansion. Based on this information, we can make the following conclusions:
1. Distance: The larger the red shift, the greater the velocity at which the object is moving away. In the context of cosmic expansion, the red shift also corresponds to the object's distance from us. Therefore, if a quasar has the largest red shifts ever observed, it implies that the quasar is located at an immense distance from us.
2. Age of the Quasar: The light we now see from the quasar left it many years ago, depending on the observed red shift. The red shift indicates how much the universe has expanded since the light left the quasar. If the quasar has the largest red shift ever observed, it means that the light we see from the quasar has traveled a long distance during the expansion of the universe. Consequently, the quasar must have existed for a significantly longer time compared to the present age of the universe.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
c) a longer time. The quasar must have existed for a significantly longer time compared to the present age of the universe.
To understand the relationship between the redshift, distance, and age of quasars, we need to consider the concept of cosmic expansion and the expanding Universe.
1. Redshift and Distance:
The phenomenon of redshift occurs when light from an object, such as a quasar, appears shifted towards longer wavelengths or lower frequencies due to the expansion of space. The larger the redshift value, the greater the amount of cosmic expansion the light has undergone.
Based on the principle of cosmic expansion, objects that are further away from us tend to exhibit larger redshifts. Therefore, if a quasar has the largest observed redshift, it suggests that it is located at a significant distance from us.
Hence, we can infer that quasars with the largest redshifts ever observed are located at vast distances from us.
2. Quasar Existence and Age of the Universe:
Quasars are considered to be among the most ancient and distant objects in the Universe. They are highly energetic and powerful, powered by supermassive black holes at their centers. The light we observe from a quasar originated from the time it was emitted, typically billions of years ago.
When we observe a quasar's light, we are essentially looking back in time. The age of the quasar represents the time that has passed since the light left the object.
Considering that quasars are incredibly distant, it means that the light we now see left the quasars when the Universe was much younger. The present age of the Universe is estimated to be around 13.8 billion years.
Therefore, when comparing the time the quasars existed to the present age of the Universe, the correct answer is:
c) a longer time
Quasars existed for a longer time compared to the present age of the Universe because their light we observe was emitted billions of years ago when the Universe was younger.